Saudi’s Riyadh airport reopens despite renewed Houthi threats

Saudi’s Riyadh airport reopens despite renewed Houthi threats
File photo: Smoke and flames rise from King Khalid Airport, after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said they attacked the airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Riyadh’s main airport reopened to international flights on Sunday after a two-week shutdown, even as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s capital continued over the weekend.Dozens of flights left King Khalid International Airport Sunday for destinations including London, Dubai and Beijing, according to the airport’s website. Local carriers Saudia and Flynas operated services, while Air India and Emirates were also listed. However, many international airlines continued to suspend operations, leaving traffic into and out of Riyadh heavily restricted. At least two of airport’s five terminals were operating. Terminal 3, damaged in strikes this month, remained closed.Airport had suspended operations after Houthi attacks on Oct 10-11 killed more than a dozen people and injured hundreds.Reopening came amid Houthi strikes on Riyadh over the weekend. Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen said they intercepted a ballistic missile and drone launched towards Riyadh on Sunday. It also said it fought off a barrage of projectiles in areas near the Yemeni border.Saudi Arabia issued weekend air-raid alerts for Riyadh, Yanbu, Jeddah and Mecca. Saudi stocks fell as much as 3.4% on Sunday amid increased geopolitical risk. Gulf Cooperation Council secretary general Jasem Albudaiwi condemned the Houthi attacks endangering Mecca, calling it “a highly dangerous violation of the sanctity of the holy sites and a provocation to the sentiments of Muslims worldwide”. Shares were on course for their worst monthly performance since 2022. Houthis continued to claim they were targeting Riyadh’s airport and critical energy infrastructure in the kingdom this month.

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