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Saudi Arabia probes its air defenses' failure to stop the deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh airport

44 articles from 9 sources
First reported on Wednesday 7 October 2026 at 18:48 EDT by The Philadelphia Inquirer·Latest article on Monday 12 October 2026 at 10:47 EDT

Summary

Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks on Saudi airports, and Saudi aviation authorities said two attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Thursday 8 October killed three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, as airlines suspended at least 124 flights, Fortune reported. On Saturday 10 October a missile struck a passenger terminal, a regional official said, and Saudi authorities said the attack killed 12 people, including a U.S. citizen, and wounded more than 300, as President Trump, evaluating whether the U.S. should join the fight against the Houthis, said 'We may. We're going to look at it.' On Sunday 11 October Saudi Arabia extended the airport's closure, the Saudi-led coalition said a projectile had struck a passenger terminal again, and the Houthis issued a new threat on Saudi airspace, according to CBS News, and accused Saudi Arabia of striking the airport in Sanaa. On Monday 12 October Saudi Arabia launched an investigation into how its air defenses failed to intercept the missiles and drones, officials saying the initial probe showed that the Houthis first fired drones to pave the way for cruise and ballistic missiles, according to PBS NewsHour. NBC News put the weekend's toll at 13 dead and hundreds wounded, and CNBC said the FAA warned U.S. airlines of flight risks over Saudi Arabia as Delta delayed its Saudi service until March.

Latest: Saudi Arabia launched an investigation into how its air defenses failed to stop the Houthi attack on Riyadh airport, the Saudi-led coalition said it was dealing with more drones and missiles heading toward the kingdom, and Delta delayed its Saudi service until March.

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How it unfolded

  1. Monday 12 October

    Saudi Arabia launched an investigation into how its air defenses failed to stop the Houthi attack on Riyadh airport, the Saudi-led coalition said it was dealing with more drones and missiles heading toward the kingdom, and Delta delayed its Saudi service until March.

  2. Sunday 11 October

    Saudi Arabia extended the closure of Riyadh airport after Saturday's attack killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, the Houthis issued a new threat on Saudi airspace and accused Saudi Arabia of striking the airport in Sanaa, and the Saudi-led coalition said a projectile struck a passenger terminal in Riyadh again.

  3. Saturday 10 October

    Riyadh airport was attacked again, a missile striking a passenger terminal and wounding many people, officials said, as the U.S. weighed joining Saudi Arabia's fight against the Iran-backed Houthis, President Trump saying 'We may. We're going to look at it.'

  4. Friday 9 October

    Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed and several other people wounded in two attacks on Riyadh airport on Thursday, as airlines suspended at least 124 flights, Fortune reported.

  5. Thursday 8 October

    Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed two attacks on Saudi airports that killed three people, officials said, then a new attack against the airport in Riyadh, where a witness reported explosions and an evacuation, and Lufthansa and Air India temporarily suspended flights to Riyadh.

  6. Wednesday 7 October

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