Saudi Arabia Announces Interception of Houthi Missile Targeting Riyadh
- 2026-10-13
- 09:59:25
Riyadh – Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman, Major General Turki al-Maliki, announced on Monday the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi group toward Riyadh.
Al-Maliki stated in a statement on his Twitter account: "A ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed."
Earlier, al-Maliki vowed a firm response to the Houthi attack that targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
Flight Suspension
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Monday following the attacks that targeted it.
GACA stated in a statement, "The suspension of operational activities at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has been extended to complete the necessary procedures to verify the safety and operational readiness of the airport facilities," without specifying a date for resuming operations.
For its part, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urged airlines to exercise caution when traveling to or transiting Saudi airspace due to risks associated with military activity and interference with navigation systems.
The US Embassy in Riyadh announced that American government employees must obtain special authorization before using any airport in Saudi Arabia, expanding previous precautionary measures amid escalating Houthi attacks on the Kingdom's airports.
In a statement, the embassy said, "US government employees working in Saudi Arabia must obtain special authorization to use any airport in the Kingdom."
It urged American citizens to "exercise extreme caution" when using Saudi airports, given the heightened security tensions.
The decision comes amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi airports, raising concerns about the impact of this escalation on air traffic and passenger safety.