Houthis Renew Riyadh Airport Threat as Flights Resume Amid Escalating Yemen War

Yemen's Houthi rebels have just renewed their dire warning against using Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport (KKIA), declaring it a 'military target' and urging all airlines and travelers to stay away. This comes as the Saudi capital's main airport cautiously resumed flights today, October 25, 2026, weeks after a deadly attack that killed 13 people and wounded over 300, forcing its temporary closure. This fresh threat from Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree isn't happening in a vacuum; it signals a dangerous escalation in the long-running Yemen conflict, especially since a two-year truce collapsed in July 2026. The Houthis explicitly frame these attacks as retaliation, adopting an 'airport for airport' strategy after blaming Saudi Arabia for an airstrike on Sanaa airport. Saudi Arabia and its allies, including the US and UK, are scrambling to bolster defenses, with the US even ordering non-emergency personnel to leave the kingdom and the UK deploying fighter jets. The immediate future of air travel to Riyadh remains uncertain, putting global aviation and regional stability on edge. As the Houthis continue to target Saudi infrastructure, including oil facilities and other airports, and fierce fighting rages in Yemeni cities like Taiz, the world watches for Saudi Arabia's response and the potential for wider regional ripple effects. The escalating conflict is also worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Yemen, displacing hundreds of thousands and pushing millions closer to famine.