Saudi Arabia · Civil aviation · Middle East security

Riyadh Airport Reopens Two Terminals as Houthis Renew Attack Warning

King Khalid International Airport is restoring domestic and selected international operations on October 25 after a suspension, while Yemen’s Houthis say the airport remains a target.

By Health Politics Daily News Desk · October 24, 2026 at 11:56 p.m. ET

Satellite photograph of the Bab el-Mandeb strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa — The Bab el-Mandeb strait seen from the International Space Station in 2020; the image predates the current conflict. NASA Johnson Space Center / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Verified baseline

King Khalid International Airport announced that Terminal 1 would handle domestic flights and Terminal 2 would handle international flights operated by Saudi national carriers beginning Sunday, October 25. The airport told passengers to confirm their flight status with their airline before travelling to the terminal, according to Arab News and other reports carrying the operating notice.

Hours later, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the airport remained a “military target” and warned airlines, airport employees and passengers against using it, Reuters reported. That is a statement of intent by a party to the conflict—not proof that a new attack is underway or imminent.

What has reopened—and what has not been promised

The notice establishes terminal assignments for domestic flights and international services operated by national carriers. It does not mean every airline, route or departure has returned to its normal schedule. Some foreign carriers had extended cancellations, and conditions can differ by airline and destination.

Earlier in October, operations were disrupted after repeated attacks on the airport. The October 10 attack killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Reuters. The Associated Press reported limited domestic traffic had resumed by October 21, making the October 25 terminal plan an expansion rather than the first movement since the closure.

Why it matters

Riyadh is Saudi Arabia’s political and commercial center, and King Khalid airport is a major connection point for residents, businesses and international travel. Restoring operations reduces disruption, but renewed threats can affect airline risk assessments, insurance, staffing and schedules even when no attack occurs.

The competing signals also show why “reopened” and “back to normal” are not interchangeable. Airport authorities control terminal operations; airlines make their own safety and scheduling decisions; military developments can change both.

Practical implications for travelers

Passengers should use their airline’s app or official website to verify the flight number, departure time and terminal before leaving for the airport. A booking confirmation issued earlier is not sufficient evidence that a flight will operate. Travelers should also monitor official airport notices and allow for rebooking or routing changes.

Health Politics Daily is not making an individualized travel recommendation. Government travel advisories and airline instructions are the appropriate sources for personal decisions.

Fact, analysis, forecast and opinion

Verified fact: the airport announced operating assignments for Terminals 1 and 2 beginning October 25, and the Houthis issued a renewed warning. Analysis: reopening expands access but does not remove the security risk airlines are evaluating. Forecast: schedules may remain uneven while carriers assess conditions; no reliable public evidence establishes how long that phase will last. Opinion: Health Politics Daily takes no position on the parties to the conflict; public communications should clearly distinguish confirmed operations, attack claims and forward-looking threats.

Bias Lens: how coverage frames the same security problem

Verified baseline: two terminals received new operating assignments, while the Houthis issued a threat; neither fact proves that all services are normal or that a new strike is imminent.

Left-leaning coverage — The Guardian: earlier coverage emphasized the regional escalation and risks to passengers after the deadly attack. Center coverage — Reuters: leads with the tension between the operating announcement and renewed warning, while attributing claims. Right-leaning coverage — New York Post: earlier reporting foregrounded the Houthis’ Iran alignment and the cycle of retaliatory attacks. These are differences in emphasis; the airport notice and the Houthis’ public statement remain the common factual core.

What remains uncertain

Authorities have not published a timetable for restoring every route or terminal. It is also unknown whether the renewed warning will be followed by another attempted attack, how airlines will respond, or whether Saudi and Houthi military operations will intensify or ease.

Principal sources

No suitable directly relevant official or publisher-authorized video with clear embedding permission was available, so none was embedded.