Houthis Threaten More Saudi Airport Strikes As Riyadh Flights Canceled

Smoke and flames increase from King Khalid Airport in Riyadh after a current attack by Yemen-based, Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

October 11, 2026 09:09 CET



Upgraded
October 12, 2026 00:00 CET

As the dispute in the Persian Gulf continues to effect and form the area, reporters from RFE/RL’s Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, provide continuous updates and analysis.

Secret Takeaways

  • Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have once again cautioned airline companies, delivering business, air travel workers, and tourists versus utilizing Saudi Arabia’s airports and airspace.
  • The caution comes a day after the Houthi released an attack on an airport in Riyadh that eliminated a minimum of 12 individuals, consisting of an American, triggering United States President Donald Trump to recommend that United States forces might accompany the Saudis to combat the Yemeni militants.
  • Yemeni federal government forces were advancing versus Houthi fighters near the tactical Bab al-Mandab strait however had yet to protect the waterway, military sources informed AFP on October 10, as combating in western Yemen eliminated a minimum of 63 individuals in 24 hours.
  • The United States Treasury Department revealed brand-new sanctions on targeting 17 vessels and business implicated of assisting Iran transportation petroleum, petroleum items, and petrochemicals in offense of United States sanctions.

United States Authorities Urge Airlines Of Potential Risks Over Saudi Airspace

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advised United States airline companies to work out care when flying to or over Saudi Arabia amidst increased security hazards connected to military activities and the capacity for navigational system disturbance.

The FAA Notice to Airmen, which lasts up until December 10, followed attacks on October 10 and 11 on Riyadh’s global airport. The October 10 attack eliminated 13 individuals and hurt more than 300 and was blamed on rockets fired by Iran-allied Houthi rebels based in Yemen.

“Threats ‌could pose a potential ⁠risk to ‌aircraft at all altitudes, including overflight, the arrival, and departure phases of flight,” the FAA stated.

Leading Iranian, Saudi Diplomats Talk by Phone As Violence Escalates

The leading diplomats of Iran and Saudi Arabia have actually spoken by phone to talk about the most recent escalations in the area in their very first openly reported contact considering that the Tehran-aligned Houthi rebels heightened attacks versus the kingdom.

The talks were reported by Saudi state media and by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on his Telegram channel.

Araqchi stated Tehran is prepared to offer any help to assist in discussion in between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Sunni-Muslim Saudi Arabia and Shi’a-led Iran are veteran bitter competitors for impact in the Middle East.

The Yemen-based Houthi rebel group has actually been releasing lethal strikes versus Saudi websites, most just recently on the global airport in the capital, Riyadh.

The Houthi motion has actually cautioned airline companies, delivering business, air travel workers, and tourists versus utilizing Saudi Arabia’s airports and airspace, explaining them as prospective targets and a “theater of operations” for its forces.

The caution follows a rocket attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10 that eliminated 13 individuals and hurt 309, according to Saudi authorities and another strike on October 11 that eliminated a single person and hurt 11.

Saudi civil air travel authorities reported another attack on Dammam airport in the east of the nation.

With reporting by Reuters

UN, European And Regional Leaders Condemn Deadly Riyadh Airport Attack

The United Nations, European leaders, and federal governments throughout the Middle East and beyond have actually condemned the October 10 attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, which eliminated 12 individuals and hurt more than 300.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated he was “deeply stunned” by the event and condemned it, stating “attacks on civilians and civilian facilities are an offense of worldwide law.” UN Yemen envoy Hans Grundberg explained the occurrence as a “severe escalation.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the actions of “Iran’s proxies,” alerting that they were pressing the area into a “spiral of violence.”

GermanForeign Minister Johann Wadephul explained the attack as “a terrorist act versus Saudi Arabia and civil air travel,” while British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting called it a “harmful escalation” and condemned the targeting of civilians.

“Condemnations likewise originated from Pakistan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called it a “abhorrent attack” and a “flagrant violation of international law.” Turkey condemned the strike “in the strongest terms.” The United Arab Emirates denounced it as a “flagrant violation” of Saudi sovereignty, while Qatar described it as “a direct hazard to local security, the security of civilians, civilian facilities, and air navigation.”

The Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation likewise revealed uniformity with Saudi Arabia.

The condemnations came as more surges were reported in the Saudi capital on October 11. 2 blasts were heard in Riyadh, according to AFP reporters and 3 homeowners. Individually, the Saudi-led union stated air defenses had actually obstructed a rocket near Riyadh airport.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Houthis Threaten More Saudi Airport Strikes As Riyadh Flights Canceled

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi motion has actually once again cautioned airline companies, delivering business, air travel workers, and tourists versus utilizing Saudi Arabia’s airports and airspace, explaining them as possible targets and a “theatre of operations” for its forces.

The caution follows a rocket attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10 that eliminated 12 individuals and hurt 309, according to Saudi authorities.

The Houthis had actually formerly cautioned airline companies to prevent Saudi airspace on October 5 and duplicated the hazard on October 8, amidst a series of attacks on Riyadh’s airport.

In a declaration released on X, Houthi military representative Yahya Saree repeated the alerting to global providers, airport staff members, and tourists, explaining Saudi airports and airspace as prospective targets. He excused airports serving the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The Houthis, who manage much of northern Yemen, consisting of the capital, Sanaa, have actually battled forces backed by a Saudi-led union given that 2015, although massive battling alleviated following a UN-brokered truce in 2022. The current risks come amidst a restored escalation in the dispute.

The violence has actually interfered with civilian life and flight in Saudi Arabia.

Schools throughout the Saudi capital were apparently purchased to change to distance gaining from Sunday through Thursday, while the United States Embassy presented constraints needing civil servant to acquire permission before utilizing significant Saudi airports, consisting of those in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

Flight cancellations advanced October 11 following the closure of King Khalid International Airport.

Figures from the air travel tracker Flightradar24 mentioned in reports revealed 606 flights to and from Riyadh noted as canceled on October 11, consisting of 293 departures and 313 arrivals.

Iran Executes Man Convicted Of Killing Police Officer

Iran has actually performed a guy founded guilty of eliminating a policeman throughout clashes with fuel smugglers in 2022, the judiciary stated on October 11, in the middle of a rise in executions considering that war emerged in February and anti-government demonstrations broke out late in 2015.

The guy, determined in court as Danial, was founded guilty of intentionally running over officer Reza Ehterami in the southern city of Bandar Abbas, the semiofficial Tasnim news firm reportedmentioning regional district attorney Aref Akbari. Iran’s Supreme Court maintained the death sentence.

Iran performs more individuals each year than any nation other than China, according to rights groups.

The nation’s greatly subsidized fuel rates are amongst the world’s most affordable, motivating prevalent smuggling to surrounding nations.

With reporting by AFP

United States Military Disables Cargo Vessel Departing Iranian Port

The United States armed force stated it had actually disabled a business freight ship in the Gulf of Oman after the vessel’s team neglected cautions and tried to run the United States marine blockade versus Iran.

“A US military fighter jet struck the stern of Panama-flagged M/V ⁠Ocean Molica (also known as ‌the “Arika Sun”) with a precision munition, fully disabling the ship’s propulsion without harming the crew,” the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) composed on X.

CENTCOM stated the vessel had actually left from an Iranian port and had actually tried to transit local waters.

“All mariners are advised to heed blockade warnings from CENTCOM forces. Crews should also continue to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches,” it stated.

Trump Condemns Deadly Attack On Saudi Airport, Says United States ‘May’ Join Fight

The United States highly condemned an attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on an airport in Saudi Arabia that eliminated a minimum of 12 individuals, consisting of an American, triggering President Donald Trump to recommend that United States forces might accompany the Saudis to eliminate the Iran-backed militants.

The 3rd strike today on Riyadh’s Khalid International Airport eliminated a minimum of 12 individuals and hurt more than 300 on October 10, according to Saudi authorities, as the Houthi rebels have actually heightened their drone and rocket project that they released in the summer season versus the kingdom.

When asked by press reporters at the White House whether the United States would sign up with the Saudi strikes versus the Houthis, Trump reacted: “We may.”

“We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision,” Trump stated. “We move very quickly.”

He later on informed press reporters he “will be speaking” with Saudi Arabian leader Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

“What happened in Saudi Arabia’s not acceptable,” Trump stated.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio validated that an American was eliminated in the attack and required that such strikes stop right away.

“These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a ‌blatant ⁠disregard for innocent ‌civilian life. They must stop now,” Rubio composed on X.

United States media have actually reported that Washington has actually denied previous demands by Saudi Arabia for the United States to sign up with the military project versus the Houthis.

The Saudi-led military union supporting Yemen’s worldwide acknowledged federal government called the attack– which struck a guest terminal– a “war crime” and pledged the union “will respond decisively to this terrorist attack.”

Because a truce in their long-running war collapsed in July, the Houthis, based in Yemen, have actually carried out drone and rocket strikes versus Saudi Arabia at an unmatched level, striking airports, oil centers, and tankers, even as they combat the Saudi-backed Yemeni federal government forces.

Yemen’s civil war likewise emerged in July after the four-year, UN-brokered truce in between the federal government and the rebels broke down.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Trump May Join Saudis’ Fight Against Houthis After 12 Killed In Airport Attack

United States President Donald Trump stated he will choose “extremely rapidly” whether to accompany Saudi Arabia in striking back versus Iran-allied Houthi rebels after a lethal rocket attack on Riyadh’s global airport.

“We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision,” Trump informed press reporters at the White House on October 10. “We move very quickly.”

Saudi authorities suspended operations at the airport after a presumed Houthi rocket eliminated a minimum of 12 individuals and injured 309 others and required waiting guests to get away for security.

Ambulances line up beyond Riyadh’s airport after a thought Houthi air campaign on October 10.

The Saudi air travel authorities verified that an attack had actually hurt numerous individuals at the airport. A diplomatic source associated it to a Houthi rocket, AFP reported.

Health authorities stated an uncommon mass call-up of physicians to handle the “serious emergency,” a medical source informed AFP. Foreign embassies alerted their people to prevent the airport.

Because a truce in their long-running war collapsed in July, the Houthis, based in Yemen, have actually performed drone and rocket strikes versus Saudi Arabia at an unmatched level, striking airports, oil centers, and tankers.

Yemen’s civil war appeared once again in July after the four-year, UN-brokered truce in between the federal government and the rebels broke down.

Saudi Arabia heads a global union that has actually supported Yemen’s worldwide acknowledged federal government militarily considering that 2015 and is now being dragged much deeper into civil war amidst the broader Middle East dispute.

United States media have actually reported that Saudi Arabia has actually been declined in its previous demands to Washington for military support in handling the Houthis.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Yemeni Government Forces Press Offensive Against Houthis Near Bab al-Mandab Strait

Saudi-backed Yemeni fighters fire a vehicle-mounted weapon throughout what federal government forces state was an advance versus the Iran-aligned Houthis previously today.

Yemeni federal government forces were advancing versus Houthi fighters near the tactical Bab al-Mandab strait however had yet to protect the waterway, military sources informed AFP on October 10, as battling in western Yemen eliminated a minimum of 63 individuals in 24 hours.

The sources stated 35 federal government soldiers and 28 Houthi fighters had actually been eliminated in clashes around the strait, a crucial shipping path connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Saudi-backed federal government introduced a counteroffensive recently to recover area taken by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who just recently took control of Yemen’s western shoreline.

The Houthis acknowledged the federal government attack however stated they had actually repelled it. A military spokesperson for the rebel group stated its forces had actually driven back Saudi-backed soldiers advancing towards the strait.

Federal government military sources stated Mayun Island, in the middle of the strait, stayed under Houthi control. Battleground claims might not be separately confirmed.

The Saudi-led union stated it had actually struck more than 130 Houthi targets early on October 10, while Houthi media reported Saudi air campaign near the strait.

The restored combating, which appeared in July after 4 years of relative calm, has actually displaced more than 200,000 individuals, according to UN figures.

The combating threatens to intensify pressure on worldwide energy products currently strained by the war including Iran and interruptions to delivering through the Strait of Hormuz, another important oil transit path.

With reporting by AFP

In New Report, United States Accuses Iran Of Recruiting Child Soldiers

The United States State Department has actually positioned Iran in the most affordable tier in its evaluation of federal government efforts to fight human trafficking, dealing with claims that Tehran hires kids for military and security functions, consisting of in armed groups running in the area.

This category shows that a federal government does not completely satisfy minimum requirements for combating human trafficking and is not making considerable efforts to satisfy them.

Previous State Department reports have actually recorded that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Basij paramilitary force, and Iran-backed armed groups hired or utilized members of other susceptible groups, consisting of Afghan migrants and refugees, for military functions.

In March, Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned an IRGC project welcoming kids as young as 12 to offer for activities referred to as safeguarding the homeland. Promoted tasks consisted of cooking, supplying medical support, dispersing materials, staffing checkpoints, carrying out intelligence and functional patrols, and accompanying automobiles.

HRW cautioned that including kids in military or security activities exposed them to severe dangers. The marketed tasks do not develop that every hire got involved in fight, functional and intelligence projects raise issues about possible participation in hostilities.

Individually, reports and images distributing in Iranian media and on social networks have actually likewise raised issues about the existence of kids amongst Basij and other security workers throughout violent federal government crackdowns on across the country demonstrations previously this year.

Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, conscripting or getting kids under 15 into militaries or armed groups, or utilizing them to get involved actively in hostilities, can make up a war criminal offense under appropriate conditions. Recruitment or usage of older minors might likewise breach worldwide commitments, depending upon the situations.

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