Air traffic control tower seen at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on September 19, 2026.
AFP | Getty Images
Saudi Arabia said on Monday it was dealing with further drone and missile attacks, as many countries warned against travel to the kingdom following a deadly attack on Riyadh airport by Iranian-backed Houthi militants.
The Australian and New Zealand governments on Monday joined similar advisories in the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany and Japan in warning their citizens not to travel to Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and other Saudi destinations.
The move comes after Saudi aviation authorities extended the suspension of operations at the airport last week after a large number of flying objects landed there. The worst attack occurred on Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring more than 300, officials said. Another attack on Sunday left one person dead and nearly a dozen injured.
Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, raising questions about the robustness of Saudi Arabia’s defense capabilities despite massive military spending.
The death toll comes as Saudi Arabia hosts major business conferences including the World Petroleum Conference, the International Energy Forum Ministerial Meeting and the Future Investment Initiative.
Surveillance camera footage shows smoke and flames at the moment of the attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 10, 2026. This frame is from the handout video.
Saudi Media Ministry | Reuters
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the US “may join” Saudi Arabia in retaliation against the Houthis.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a phone call on Sunday that he told Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud that Iran is ready to take steps to start dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, home to the Houthis.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghai said that Iran was still considering the US response to the proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and would respond through an intermediary, Reuters reported.
