Houthis Issue New 'Siege for Siege' Threat, Declare Saudi Airports a 'Theatre of Operations' After Riyadh Attack

Yemen's Houthi movement has renewed a warning against using Saudi airports and airspace, excluding Mecca and Medina, after an attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309, according to Saudi authorities. The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Houthis for Saturday's strike, but the group had not claimed responsibility in reports published on Sunday.

In a statement reported on Sunday, 11 October, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi airports and airspace were 'exposed to targeting and constitute a theatre of operations for our forces'. He reiterated the group's 'airport for airport, siege for siege, and escalation for escalation' threat as flight suspensions and security warnings disrupted travel to the Saudi capital.

Houthis Warn Airlines and Travellers Against Using Saudi Airspace

Saree urged airlines, airport employees and travellers to take the warning seriously and avoid using Saudi airports and airspace. The statement did not identify the next potential target or give a timetable for further attacks.

The exception for Mecca and Medina formed part of the group's stated warning. It was not an independently verified assurance that flights serving the holy cities would be safe.

The Houthis have used 'airport for airport' and 'siege for siege' to portray attacks on Saudi infrastructure as retaliation for military operations and restrictions imposed on Yemen. That is the group's explanation of its actions, rather than an independent assessment of responsibility or justification.

Riyadh Airport Attack Kills 12 and Injures 309

The attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, 10 October, killed 12 people and injured 309, according to Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority.

Those killed included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, the authority said.

Saturday's strike was the third attack on the airport that week. The two earlier attacks killed four people and damaged a Saudi commercial aircraft, bringing the reported death toll across the three attacks to at least 16.

Saudi authorities diverted flights and suspended airport operations after Saturday's strike. The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Houthis and vowed to respond.

The group's subsequent warning against Saudi aviation did not, by itself, constitute a claim of responsibility for that particular attack.

Flight Suspensions and Security Alerts Disrupt Travel

Earlier attacks had prompted several airlines to suspend or cancel services to Riyadh, Reuters reported. The latest suspension of airport operations added to the disruption for passengers travelling to and from the capital.

Several embassies issued warnings to avoid the airport. The UK Foreign Office advised British nationals to avoid the area until the airport was secure, according to the BBC.

Schools in Riyadh also switched to remote learning for the week, per AFP.

The broader Houthi warning extended beyond Riyadh to Saudi airports and airspace elsewhere. Passengers should follow current airline updates and official security advice, rather than treating the group's stated exceptions as guarantees of safety.

Saudi Offensive in Yemen Raises Risk of Further Escalation

The attacks come amid a Saudi-led military offensive against the Houthis in Yemen. The coalition supports Yemeni government forces against the movement, which controls Sanaa and other parts of the country.

The Houthis describe their attacks on Saudi infrastructure as retaliation for the campaign and what they call a siege against Yemen. Saudi authorities, meanwhile, have condemned the airport strikes and pledged a military response.

US President Donald Trump has said Washington is considering whether to join Saudi strikes against the group. Asked about possible US involvement, he told reporters: 'We may. We're going to look at it.'

His remarks did not amount to a decision to launch additional US operations. As the threat of further attacks continued, airlines and travellers faced airport restrictions and security warnings without a timetable for when the disruption would end.