Houthis threaten more attacks on Saudi airports after 12 people die in Riyadh and Kuwait Airways joins airlines canceling flights

Yemen's Houthi fighters, backed by Iran, discouraged passengers from using Saudi airports this Sunday after yesterday's attack on the airport in the capital, Riyadh, which left 12 dead and more than 300 injured. It was the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia since a suicide bombing by the Islamic State group that killed 21 worshipers at a Shiite mosque in Al Qatif in May 2015.

"Airports and airspace are exposed to being the target of attacks and constitute a theater of operations for our forces, with the exception of the airports of Mecca and Medina," the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, published on the X social network, referring to the two most sacred cities of Islam.

Today operations at Riyadh airport remain suspended, according to AFP from Saudi aviation sources. "Riyadh airport has suspended operations again today. We were informed at dawn," the sources say.

In a statement posted on

"The information we have is that operations are suspended until further notice and that some systems have been damaged - radar and communications equipment," said a second source who works in the aviation sector and helps supervise flights to Riyadh, adding that the runways also needed to be evaluated.

Airlines cancellation

This Sunday, Kuwait Airways joined other airlines that have canceled their flights to Riyadh airport. The airline operator announced the cancellation of flights KU775, from Kuwait to Riyadh, and KU776, from Riyadh to Kuwait, scheduled for this Sunday, October 11, due to the temporary suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital.

In a statement, Kuwait Airways advises passengers to check their flight updates and indicates that it will send notifications and text messages to the mobile phone numbers registered in their reservations to inform them of any changes. The airline emphasizes that it will continue to follow the evolution of the situation in coordination with the competent authorities and that it will keep its customers informed of any developments.

Their decision comes after Emirati airlines Etihad Airways, Flydubai and Air Arabia announced the cancellation of flights to Riyadh and other Saudi airports due to operational problems arising from recent attacks on airport facilities in the kingdom.

Saudi authorities announced yesterday, Saturday, the temporary suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport following a new missile attack by the Houthis. The suspension will remain in place until the damage assessment is completed and the safety of the facilities is verified following the attack that left at least 12 people dead and another 309 injured.