Saudi-Led Coalition Reports New Attack on Riyadh Airport

Reuters

This file photo shows Terminal 1 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 17 February 2026.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said an unidentified projectile targeted Riyadh’s international airport on Sunday, sparking a fire, hours after the Iran-backed Houthis warned airlines and travellers to stay away from Saudi airports.

The coalition also said Saudi air defences had intercepted a cruise missile near King Khalid International Airport. No further details were immediately available.

The airport remains closed following an attack on Saturday that killed 12 people and wounded more than 300 others. The strike was the deadliest of its kind in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade, amid escalating fighting between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces.

Despite the temporary closure, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said a long-planned international energy conference would go ahead in Riyadh on Sunday.

The Saudi-led coalition said Sunday’s projectile had targeted Terminal 4 at the airport but provided no further details.

Earlier, the Houthis had said in a statement on X:
"We renew our warning to all airlines, experts, employees, workers and travellers against using Saudi airports and airspace, as they are vulnerable to attack and have become a theatre of operations for our forces, with the exception of the airports in (the holy cities of) Mecca and Medina."

"We urge everyone to take our warnings seriously, and Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions."

Saudi Arabia has stepped up its military involvement in Yemen in recent weeks, launching strikes against the Houthis and supporting a counteroffensive by Yemeni government forces after the group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis, as the conflict increasingly spills over from the wider war involving Iran, launched by the United States and Israel in February.

A five-day WPC Energy Congress is taking place this week at a convention centre about 10 kilometres from the airport. Saudi state television reported that more than 70 ministers, 300 company executives and representatives of over 25 international energy organisations had confirmed their attendance.

A ministerial meeting of the International Energy Forum is also scheduled to take place on Sunday, with its plenary session to be held behind closed doors, according to a media advisory. No further details were immediately available.

Separately, Saudi authorities informed parents that in-person classes would be suspended and replaced by remote learning from Sunday until Thursday. The measure applies to all students, teachers and administrative staff.

Saudi authorities said the 12 people killed in Saturday’s attack — the third targeting Riyadh airport in a week — included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and nationals of the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt.

Four people were killed in two earlier attacks on the airport during the same week. One of those strikes also caused extensive damage to a Saudi commercial aircraft parked on the tarmac.



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