Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on Monday that the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh would be prolonged. The decision follows a weekend of deadly strikes by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, which have intensified tensions across the region.
In a statement, the aviation authority explained that the closure is necessary to complete safety assessments and verify the operational readiness of airport facilities. The statement did not provide a timeline for when commercial flights would resume.
The escalation comes in the wake of a Houthi attack on Saturday that killed at least 12 people and wounded hundreds more. In total, more than 15 individuals have been killed in Saudi Arabia over the past two weeks due to renewed hostilities. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman described the recent events as “serious,” stating that the kingdom’s response must match the gravity of the situation.
Regional and international reactions to the violence have been swift. China condemned the attacks, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning expressing “serious concern” over the intensifying conflict and the heavy casualties suffered.
Within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Emirati presidential adviser Anwar Gargash urged member states to revitalize joint security and defense cooperation. Gargash argued that the targeting of Saudi Arabia undermines the security of all Gulf nations and that a neglect of collective defense has emboldened adversaries to overreach.
Meanwhile, diplomatic channels remain active. Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister held discussions with his Iranian counterpart regarding the escalation and efforts to de-escalate tensions. Additionally, Iran’s foreign ministry stated that it is still reviewing a US response regarding a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with replies expected via intermediaries.
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