Yemen’s Houthi rebels have warned travellers and aviation companies against using Saudi Arabian airports and airspace following an attack on an airport in the capital, Riyadh, that killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to Reuters.
The attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, October 10, reportedly forced the suspension of airport operations, with several people killed and hundreds wounded, according to Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority.
Following the incident, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree issued a warning to aviation and navigation companies, their staff and travellers, urging them to avoid Saudi airports and airspace.
“The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all aviation and navigation companies, experts, staff, workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports and airspace,” Saree said in a post on X.
“The airports and airspace are exposed to targeting and constitute a theatre of operations for our forces, with the exception of the airports of Mecca and Medina,” he added.
The spokesman, whose group is backed by Iran, said the airports in Mecca and Medina were exempt from the warning.
The two cities are Islam’s holiest sites.
The warning raises concerns about aviation safety in Saudi Arabia following the deadly attack in Riyadh, as the Houthis threaten further strikes against airports and airspace in the country.
