Houthi Attack Riyadh Airport, Saudia Plane Goes Up in Flames
The Houthi group launched an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The strike set a Saudia Airlines plane on fire on the tarmac. Footage verified by Reuters shows thick black smoke billowing from the airport area. There are no reports of injuries so far, and the aircraft is believed to have been empty at the time.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the airport attack and warned that energy facilities would be their next target. Separately, Saudi authorities said debris from an intercepted missile also hit a kindergarten and a medical complex in Riyadh. The assault triggered mass cancellations, with nearly half of the departure schedule from Riyadh Airport scrapped, according to Cirium data. Lufthansa and Air India also suspended flights to the Saudi capital.
The Saudi government blamed the attack on the kingdom's backing of the UN-recognized Yemeni government forces. That same week, pro-Riyadh troops launched a counter-offensive to retake strategic areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The conflict, which has flared up again after a 2022 ceasefire, is worsening the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with around 200,000 people displaced.
Saudi Arabia is now seeking support from its allies. Turkey said it would provide defensive and technical assistance, including military gear and intelligence. Meanwhile, US and Syrian defense officials hinted that Damascus is considering military aid options to fight the Houthis.
https://www.harianaceh.co.id/2