Saudi Arabia closes Riyadh airport until October 17 after attacks: Why Houthi missiles fly through | Today’s news
Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport until October 17 after deadly attacks blamed on Yemen’s Houthi rebels disrupted flights and raised questions about the kingdom’s ability to defend critical infrastructure.
The airport has been closed since Saturday’s attack, which reportedly killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
Another attack on Sunday killed one person and injured nearly a dozen others.
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Saudi authorities extended the closure after deadly attacks attributed to the Houthis killed and wounded people and disrupted airport operations. Terminals, radar and communication equipment were also damaged.
Initial investigations indicate that several drones may have preceded cruise and ballistic missiles, complicating detection and response. The exact order and reasons why the weapons reached their targets remain under investigation.
Drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles have different speeds and flight profiles, making it difficult to track and intercept simultaneous threats. A limited supply of fighters and the challenge of defending a large area increase the pressure.
Planes avoided Riyadh when the airport was closed and flights were diverted or cancelled. Flights continued to land in Jeddah, while cancellations at Saudi airports reached 46.4%, according to figures cited in the article.
The articles inform of aviation warnings against flying over parts of Saudi Arabia and advise travelers to familiarize themselves with their governments’ travel advisories. An airline’s decision to operate a route is not in itself a guarantee of safety.
The strikes highlighted the growing capabilities of the Houthis’ missile and drone arsenal and the challenges Saudi Arabia faces despite its advanced air defense systems when attacks reach deep into Saudi territory.
Why are the Houthis targeting Saudi Arabia?
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed movement that seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa in 2014, have expanded their military capabilities over the past decade. Their drones and missiles have reached targets as far away as Israel, while repeated cross-border attacks have threatened Saudi territory and infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s airports are strategically important, linking the Kingdom to international travel, trade and commerce. Riyadh is a major political and economic center, so attacks on its transport infrastructure are particularly devastating.
The attacks come at a time of wider regional tensions that also threaten shipping routes and energy supplies. The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a key route for global trade and energy supplies.
Further escalation involving the Houthis could contribute to regional security and threaten shipping during the Hormuz crisis.
How do Houthi missiles get past Saudi air defenses?
An initial investigation into the Riyadh airport attack suggests the Houthis used multiple drones before launching a combination of cruise and ballistic missiles, according to two regional officials cited by the Associated Press.
The drones may have helped pave the way for the missiles, complicating the task of Saudi air defense systems. One official quoted by the AP said investigators were also looking into why the systems did not provide earlier warning of the attack, in which the weapons traveled more than 1,000 kilometers before reaching Riyadh.
The Houthis have ballistic missiles and systems capable of changing direction in flight, which can make interception difficult. The exact sequence of events and the reasons why the weapons reached their targets remain under investigation.
Saudi Arabia operates advanced, multi-layered air defense systems, including the US-supplied Patriot and THAAD systems.
However, efforts to stop persistent attacks can be complicated by several factors.
- Mixed attacks can overwhelm defenses: Drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles have different flight and speed profiles. Detecting, monitoring and responding to several types of threats at once can put pressure on air defense networks.
- Fighter supplies are limited: Patriot and THAAD anti-missile systems are expensive and take time to replenish. The wider regional conflict has put further pressure on air defense stocks, raising concerns about how long countries can maintain protection against repeated attacks.
- Defending a large area is difficult: Saudi Arabia must protect cities, airports, military installations and energy facilities over a vast area.
An aviation source overseeing flights in the Persian Gulf told AFP that Saudi authorities had informed airlines that the suspension would last until at least Thursday.
A source cited in the report also said Terminals 3 and 4, radar and communications equipment were damaged.
The airport closure has since been extended until October 17.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed planes were avoiding Riyadh on Monday, although flights continued to cross Saudi airspace and land in Jeddah, the main aviation hub on the kingdom’s west coast.
Cancellations at Saudi airports reached 46.4%, according to aviation analytics company Cirium, cited by Reuters.
“This level of sustained, intense attack on civil aviation is unprecedented,” Mark Zee, founder of aviation security consultancy OPSGROUP, told Reuters.
Saudi Arabia has reportedly reached out to friendly countries asking for the deployment of air defenses and other assistance.
