Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport partially resumed domestic flight operations on Wednesday after nearly two weeks of closure caused by a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia. The airport had been shut since October 10 following repeated drone strikes, which forced airlines to suspend services. Saudi carriers Saudia and flynas restarted limited flights after authorities authorized the resumption of operations with prior approval, though major international airlines, including Lufthansa and Air France, have continued cancellations through mid-November.
The Iran-backed Houthis, who control significant parts of Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attacks on the airport, alleging without providing evidence that the facility was being used by Saudi Arabia to supply military equipment to Yemeni government forces. In response, the Saudi-led coalition announced it intercepted and destroyed five drones launched towards the Kingdom on Monday. Coalition spokesman Brigadier General Turgal Ali Maliki identified the drone targets as the city of Madina and the Eastern Region, emphasizing ongoing efforts to defend vital infrastructure and population centers amid an intensified Houthi campaign.
The drone and missile attacks have increasingly targeted Saudi cities, oil facilities, and transport hubs over recent weeks. In parallel with these attacks, the conflict continues to take a heavy toll on civilians in Yemen. On Tuesday, two teenage girls were killed and six others were wounded in a residential neighborhood of Taiz following a Houthi strike.
To bolster Saudi Arabia’s defenses, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force has deployed fighter jets to conduct defensive patrols over Saudi territory. These aircraft have been authorized to intercept incoming missiles and drones but are not permitted to launch offensive strikes against Houthi positions within Yemen. Additionally, Egypt is preparing to reinforce air defense capabilities in the Kingdom, including the deployment of aircraft and defense systems, according to a regional official familiar with the plans.
Meanwhile, Turkey is moving toward formalizing its military commitments under the Mak-kah Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. A lawmaker from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party stated that a parliamentary mandate for Turkish military deployment to Saudi Arabia will be submitted following the treaty’s ratification, which was initiated on Tuesday.
The United States has reiterated its support for Saudi Arabia amid the ongoing escalation in the region. The developments mark a notable increase in regional security cooperation as the Saudi-led coalition contends with persistent Houthi attacks impacting both military and civilian spheres.