Houthi rebels strike Saudi Riyadh airport again, fire in terminal as regional conflict escalates

Houthi militants launched another attack on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 12, hitting Passenger Hall No. 4 and causing a fire with reported injuries. This marks the second strike in two days, following an October 10 assault that killed 12 people - including four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt - while wounding over 300; an Indian national also died from injuries sustained in that earlier attack.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for both incidents, stating they fired ballistic and cruise missiles alongside drones at Riyadh's airport, while also claiming to have targeted Dammam Airport and Saudi oil installations. Saudi military officials confirmed intercepting a missile near Riyadh on October 12 and said officials were responding to a fire caused by an "unknown projectile" in the terminal. The Saudi-led coalition had previously reported intercepting threats near the airport.

This escalation follows the July collapse of a 2022-brokered ceasefire between Houthis and Saudi-led forces, after Houthi fighters seized strategic sections of Yemen's Red Sea coastline, prompting Saudi air strikes. Yemeni pro-government forces later announced retaking those areas. The weekend's attack was described as the deadliest single assault on a Gulf Arab country since the broader regional conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran began in February 2026.

For Nigerians, the UK Foreign Office has advised against all travel to parts of Saudi Arabia within 10 kilometres of the Yemen border due to the rising threat. With oil installations explicitly mentioned as Houthi targets, the conflict carries potential implications for global energy markets that could affect Nigeria's oil-dependent economy. Given these developments, how should Nigerian travelers and businesses reassess their exposure to Middle East risks amid widening regional instability?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/10/12/saudi-airport-hit-again-as-houthis-escalate-attacks/