Houthi attacks kill three at Riyadh airport in escalating campaign

Houthi rebels attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, October 9, 2026. A second strike hit a Saudia Airlines aircraft on the ground. Three Saudi citizens died, including an airline pilot. Several other people were wounded, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The Houthis said they used cruise missiles and ballistic missiles in the attack. They also claimed to have struck an airport and an airbase in southern Saudi Arabia, but Saudi officials did not confirm this. The airport reopened and flights returned to normal after the attacks. Saudi Arabia has been fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the Houthis have responded by targeting Saudi cities and infrastructure. This was the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia since the offensive began the previous weekend.