Houthis Claim Riyadh Airport Attack | CLAT GK

CURRENT AFFAIRS | 09 OCTOBER 2026

On Thursday, 8 October 2026, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed a fresh attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. According to The Hindu, which carried an Associated Press report, several explosions were heard in Riyadh that day, including a large blast at the city’s international airport. The Iran-backed Houthis said a ballistic missile had caused damage, but gave no evidence, and the Saudi side had no immediate comment on the claim. The attack came a day after the kingdom said an earlier strike on the same airport had killed one person and wounded others — a figure carried by both The Hindu and The Times of India.

The fallout reached India within hours. An Air India flight, AI2243, from Delhi to Riyadh turned back mid-air and returned to Delhi. The Indian Express reported, citing flight-tracking data, that the aircraft left Delhi at about 2:40 pm, turned around after flying for about two hours and landed back in Delhi at about 6:45 pm. Air India said the flight returned “in the best interest of the safety of passengers and crew”; it was then cancelled and full refunds were offered.

What happened on 8 October

The Hindu’s report sets out the sequence on the Saudi side:

• The spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, said the coalition intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles fired towards Riyadh, and one fired towards Khamis Mushait in the south-west, near the Yemen border.
• Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency said fragments of an intercepted missile fell in Riyadh and damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic complex, without saying whether anyone was hurt.
• The airport asked passengers to contact their airlines and check their flight status before travelling to the airport.
• Early that day, the Houthis warned global airlines “for the last time” about operating in Saudi airspace, which the group called a theatre for its military operations.

The Houthis have repeatedly claimed attacks on Saudi airports, military sites and oil facilities in recent days. Reports quoted the group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, as saying it had used ballistic missiles and drones against Saudi airports. The latest strikes come amid renewed fighting in Yemen between the Saudi-backed government forces and the Houthis.

Indian airlines suspend Riyadh flights

According to The Indian Express, three Indian carriers suspended Riyadh operations on 8 October:

• Air India and Air India Express cancelled flights to and from Riyadh until 10 October, offering refunds or free rescheduling.
• IndiGo cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh until 9 October, citing the security situation in the region.
• Akasa Air cancelled its two Kochi–Riyadh flights scheduled for 8 October.

News18 separately confirmed the Air India turn-back and the suspension of Air India and Air India Express services until 10 October. The Times of India also reported that India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned the attacks on Abha and King Khalid International Airports, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable” and expressing solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia.

Why it matters for India

The episode shows how quickly a conflict in West Asia can reach Indian citizens. The Gulf is home to a large Indian community, and Riyadh is a busy route for Indian airlines; a single missile claim was enough to send one flight back and suspend services by three Indian carriers. For policymakers, the key concerns are the safety of Indian nationals, the security of air and sea routes, and the stability of energy supplies from the Gulf.

India’s response, as reported, follows a familiar pattern: it condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, without taking a side in Yemen’s internal war. That balance reflects India’s close ties with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. A student should note the distinction: India condemns the act (targeting civilians and airports) in the language of international humanitarian law, rather than naming a party to the conflict as an enemy.

The larger picture

The Houthis first drew wide global attention for attacks on Red Sea shipping, which forced many vessels to avoid the Suez route. The October strikes shift the focus to civil aviation inside Saudi Arabia. A warning to “all global airlines” turns a regional war into a direct risk for commercial travel, and airlines respond by cancelling flights rather than taking chances. For India, whose workers, pilgrims and businesses depend on Gulf air links, the immediate cost is disrupted travel; the longer-term concern is whether the region’s air and sea lanes stay open.