AI-generated summary
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned group, have been attacking Saudi airports and oil facilities since last week as part of a rapidly escalating conflict that has spilled over from the war between the United States and Iran. Saudi authorities launched an investigation into air defence failures after the weekend attack on King Khalid International Airport killed 14 and injured about 320.
Yemen's Houthis say they have launched another attack on Riyadh airport and an air base in Saudi Arabia's Khamis Mushait as fighting between the two sides continues.
Saudi Arabia earlier issued an alert for a potential "hostile threat" in Riyadh, according to a message seen by Reuters.
A Saudi-led coalition later said it had destroyed the ballistic missile fired by the Iran-aligned group.
The latest strikes came after Saudi officials launched an investigation into how its air defences failed to intercept the barrage of missiles and drones that struck King Khalid International Airport, killing 14 people and injuring about 320 on the weekend.
The Houthis have been attacking Saudi airports and oil facilities since last week as part of a rapidly escalating conflict that has spilled over from the war between the United States and Iran.
Authorities have extended the closure of the airport until October 17 and airlines have scrapped flights.
UAE airline Etihad said it would not resume flights until next week at the earliest.
The Saudi civil aviation authority said work was underway to "allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport's facilities".
Air traffic tracker Flightradar24 showed planes avoiding the city on Monday, though jets were crossing Saudi airspace and landing at the country's biggest airport in Jeddah on the country's west coast.
Loading...
Officials, who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said an initial probe showed the Houthis first fired multiple drones to pave the way for a mix of cruise and ballistic missiles to reach King Khalid International Airport.
One of the officials said the investigation also aimed to find out why air defence systems did not provide earlier warning of the attack in which the missiles and drones flew more than 1,000 kilometres to reach Riyadh.
"The events of recent weeks are serious," Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman told the World Petroleum Energy Congress in Riyadh.
The Saudi government-run Center for International Communication, which oversees foreign media, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Strikes have continued between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, with the rebel group saying one person had been killed and 12 injured in a new Saudi attack on the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
Saudi officials want US more involved
The Saudis are looking to the US to become more directly involved in their fight against the Houthis.
The US has provided intelligence sharing, target identification and planning for a Saudi-led offensive — but so far has held off on directly carrying out strikes against the Houthis.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday told reporters that he was looking at the possibility of carrying out US attacks against the Houthis.
Speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi focused on the postwar future of the Middle East, former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the Houthi strike was a troubling development that showed the US had not yet achieved its objectives for the war against Iran.
"What it does demonstrate is that we've not yet achieved deterrence. We collectively have not yet achieved deterrence," said Mr Pompeo, who served as secretary of state and CIA director during Mr Trump's first term.
"You have to crush the Iranian regime, period, full stop. There's no solution short of that."
A US intervention could prompt the Houthis to try to halt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea off Yemen, restricting the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf.
UAE diplomat suggests Gulf allies respond to Houthis jointly
Separately, an Emirati diplomat on Monday called for "joint Gulf action" to defend Gulf countries against attacks by Iran and its allies.
Anwar Gargash — a diplomatic adviser to the rulers of the United Arab Emirates — said Iran and its allies wrongly assessed that Gulf Arabs were "the weakest link" in the US war against Iran, during which Tehran and its allies repeatedly attacked Arab countries on the other side of the Gulf.
"It has become clear that we are all targeted, and that our security is indivisible," he wrote on social media, adding that attacks on Saudi Arabia "undermine the security of the UAE and all Gulf states".
AP/Reuters
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Saudi Arabia will receive increased US intelligence and logistical support, but direct US strikes against the Houthis will remain limited in the near term.
Likely · Within weeks
The Houthis will attempt to disrupt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if US military pressure increases.
Possible · Within months
King Khalid International Airport will resume limited operations before October 17 as safety procedures are completed.
Possible · Within weeks

Australia's eSafety commissioner has limited powers to prevent Australians from viewing a planned US military execution livestream, relying on platform compliance or legal challenges, with history suggesting a public fight over content moderation and free speech.
The Australian embassy in Riyadh has ordered citizens to shelter in place as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia continue. King Khalid International Airport remains closed after a weekend attack killed 14 people, while Iran has offered to mediate the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian officials report ongoing Russian attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv and Kyiv, despite Donald Trump's claim of an immediate mutual "energy ceasefire."

Australian engineer Robert Pether was permitted to leave Iraq after five years of detention, including four years in jail, following the dismissal of proceedings against him. His release came after negotiations involving Australian, Irish, Egyptian and Iraqi officials, though advisers criticized the timing of Foreign Minister Penny Wong's announcement as he was still transiting through Turkey. Pether's family described the ordeal as a 'living nightmare' and welcomed his freedom, while the UN working group had previously found his detention arbitrary and involving possible torture.

Australian engineer Robert Pether has been permitted to leave Iraq after being detained for over four years without charge in connection to a business dispute involving his firm's work on the Central Bank of Iraq headquarters. His release follows deteriorating health and sustained diplomatic advocacy by the Australian government.
At least 139 migrants died and dozens are missing after an overcrowded boat capsized near Guhere, Djibouti, while sailing from Djibouti to Yemen. The vessel carried 305 people, mostly Ethiopian nationals. Over 80 survived, 84 remain missing. Djiboutian authorities are conducting search and rescue operations with IOM support. The incident highlights the dangers of the Eastern Route amid rising violence in Yemen and Ethiopia.