Houthi Airport Attacks Escalate Into Saudi Strikes and Aramco Building Hit

Yemen's Ansarullah movement, better known as the Houthis, struck Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport four times in five days, according to Amwaj Media. It described the attacks as the deadliest against Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.

The reported casualty figures differ. Japan Times put the airport death toll at at least 16, including a U.S. citizen, with roughly 300 wounded. CBS Top Stories reported at least 13 deaths and massive damage after missiles struck the main terminal. The supplied reports do not reconcile those totals.

The attacks come amid renewed fighting in Yemen. According to Japan Times, the Houthis have been attacking key Saudi sites in retaliation for the kingdom's backing of government forces in Yemen's reignited civil war.

By October 13, the airport closure was disrupting flights across Saudi Arabia. Il Post reported that Riyadh airport would remain closed until Saturday, October 17. Business Line reported that Etihad had cancelled all flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 19.

The military response followed on October 13. Reuters reported that Houthi media said Saudi Arabia had attacked a Yemen Oil Company facility in Sanaa shortly after the Saudi-led coalition ordered its evacuation. The Guardian separately reported Saudi strikes on a strategic oil depot on the capital's outskirts.

The Houthis threatened further attacks. The BBC reported warnings of retaliation against Riyadh and Dammam, while Al Jazeera reported threats against Aramco facilities and airports.

On Tuesday night, October 13, an attack hit Aramco's headquarters complex in Dhahran, causing a fire in part of the complex, according to Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the incident. By October 14, South China Morning Post reported Saudi Arabia's statement that an attack on an Aramco building had sparked a limited fire.

Missile interceptions also caused casualties in Riyadh. Arab News reported on October 14 that four people were injured by falling debris after air defences brought down Houthi missiles, with loud explosions heard just before midnight on Tuesday.

The confrontation now includes strikes on energy infrastructure as well as airports. Saudi Arabia reported damage to the Aramco building in Dhahran and four people wounded in Riyadh on Wednesday, according to Reuters. Those injuries are separate from the earlier airport casualties.

Travel disruption remains substantial. NDTV reported that Air India cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah until October 17. Le Monde reported that France advised against travel and stopovers at several Saudi airports, while the United States urged its citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia.

US President Donald Trump criticised the Houthis but did not outline a specific U.S. response, Arab News reported on October 13.

The immediate questions are whether Riyadh airport can reopen on October 17 and whether airlines maintain their announced restart schedules. Air India said it was monitoring developments to assess when safe operations could resume, according to NDTV.

Further Houthi attacks and any additional Saudi strikes remain the central security risks after the threats against cities, airports and Aramco facilities reported by the BBC and Al Jazeera. A specific U.S. response also remained unannounced in the October 13 account from Arab News.