Saudi Arabia has extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh as authorities continue safety inspections following deadly attacks over the weekend. Saudi Arabia also reported a fresh threat involving drones and cruise missiles on Monday.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the suspension would remain in place while procedures to verify the safety and operational readiness of airport facilities were completed in coordination with the relevant authorities. The extension follows attacks on the airport on October 10 and 11 that killed 14 people and injured hundreds, disrupting air travel and prompting airlines to cancel or suspend services to Saudi Arabia. Several international carriers announced further flight suspensions on Monday, adding to travel disruption across the region.
Major General Turki Al-Malki, official spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, said a threat involving drones and cruise missiles against Saudi Arabia had been detected and tracked and was being dealt with. Earlier in the day, the Coalition had posted that a ballistic missile launched towards Khamis Mushait had been intercepted and destroyed.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said the family of Mohammed Yousuf Ali, an Indian national who died in the October 10 attack, had decided to hold his funeral in Riyadh. The mission said it was assisting the family with the required formalities. In an update posted on social media, the embassy said three injured Indian nationals remained in intensive care and two more had been admitted to the ICU. Two others were in regular hospital wards, while the remaining injured nationals had been discharged. Embassy officials had visited hospitals treating injured nationals, and the mission said it remained in contact with their families and was providing assistance.
The security situation has added urgency to discussions on protecting energy infrastructure and maintaining reliable supplies across the Gulf. Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Monday that energy security could not be taken for granted, warning that the current circumstances had tested Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, institutions and resilience. He made the remarks at the 25th WPC Energy Congress, an international gathering of energy policymakers and industry representatives taking place in Riyadh. The conference has continued despite the airport attacks. The minister also reportedly outlined plans to increase Saudi Arabia’s capacity to export crude oil through pipelines to as much as 10 million barrels per day over the next two to three years.
The attacks on the civilian infrastructure have also prompted widespread condemnation and calls for a coordinated regional response. Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said the security of Gulf countries was indivisible and described collective security as a shared responsibility.
