Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said Yemen's Houthis carried out 20 attacks on the Riyadh airport between October 1 and 11 using 10 drones, four ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles and two unidentified projectiles, killing 17 people and wounding 333 there. Across five targeted Saudi airports, including Abha, Najran and Jazan, Houthi strikes killed 19 people and wounded 364 in total, al-Maliki said, adding that the group also attempted to hit dozens of oil facilities and ports. Satellite imagery and interception debris in Riyadh also showed Saudi forces firing a US-made THAAD anti-ballistic missile battery positioned near the capital's airport, where each interceptor costs about $13.5 million.
The Houthis warned airlines and travelers that all Saudi airports and airspace except Mecca and Medina remain active military targets under an "airport for airport, siege for siege, and escalation for escalation" campaign. The US Embassy in Riyadh reiterated on October 16 that American government employees require special authorization to use any Saudi airport, noted that airports in Jeddah and Dammam remain operational with delays and cancellations, and warned that US citizens have been detained under Saudi Interior Ministry rules for photographing government buildings, airports and missile or drone impact sites.