Saudi authorities confirmed on Monday that the kingdom continues to face drone and missile strikes, a development that prompted multiple governments to issue travel warnings for Riyadh. The escalation follows a series of attacks on King Khalid International Airport by Iran-backed Houthi militants, raising immediate concerns about regional stability and aviation safety.
The Australian and New Zealand governments joined the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan in cautioning their citizens against traveling to King Khalid International Airport and other destinations in Saudi Arabia. These advisories were issued in response to fatal strikes on the airport infrastructure. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation extended the suspension of operations at the airport, which officials stated has been targeted by numerous projectiles over the past week.
The deadliest incident occurred on Saturday, when officials reported that 12 people were killed and more than 300 were injured. A subsequent strike on Sunday resulted in one death and nearly a dozen injuries. Yemen's Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for these attacks. The frequency of these strikes has intensified scrutiny of Saudi Arabia's air defense capabilities, particularly given the kingdom's significant military expenditure.
The disruptions coincide with several major corporate conferences currently being held in the kingdom, specifically the World Petroleum Congress, the International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting, and the Future Investment Initiative. According to Flightradar24 data, airlines have canceled hundreds of flights scheduled for the coming days, while approximately 100 flights were forced to divert to other airports. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to U.S. carriers regarding potential risks associated with flying over or around Saudi Arabia.
Delta Air Lines has scheduled a nonstop flight from Atlanta to Riyadh for October 23, but a company spokeswoman stated that no decision has been made regarding whether to postpone the new route. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States "may" join Saudi Arabia in retaliatory actions against the Houthis. In a separate diplomatic development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he told Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud by phone that Tehran is willing to take steps to initiate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Reuters reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Iran is still reviewing a U.S. response to its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and will reply through intermediaries.