What the Deadly Riyadh Airport Strike Means for Travel, Oil and the Wider War

Saudi Arabia kept King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh closed on Sunday and moved the capital's schools online, a day after a missile strike killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, according to reports from The Independent and ABC News. The kingdom is on high alert as Yemen's Houthi rebels threaten more attacks.

The strike is a major escalation in the war between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia. U.S. President Donald Trump said he is considering whether to join Saudi strikes against the rebels, the outlets reported.

What happened at the Riyadh airport

The missile attack hit the capital's main international airport on Saturday. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for it, the reports said. The group did claim two earlier deadly attacks on the same airport during the week. The attack on Saturday is described as allegedly carried out by the Houthis.

After the strike, Saudi authorities kept the airport shut and shifted Riyadh's schools to online classes on Sunday. The reports did not say when the airport might reopen.

What the Houthis are threatening

The Houthis threatened new airstrikes across the kingdom. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the group's military spokesperson, urged “everyone to take our warnings seriously.” The reports did not specify which locations might be targeted.

What this means for travelers, oil and the wider conflict

For travelers, the immediate effect is disruption at one of the kingdom's main gateways. With the airport closed, flights through Riyadh are affected, and the reports gave no timeline for resuming service. Families in the capital also face a change to daily routines, with children studying from home.

The larger concern is the broader regional war. The reports said the airport strike further complicated faltering efforts to end the U.S.-Iran war.

The reports also pointed to economic risks. If Trump decides to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis, the scenario could prompt the rebels to halt shipping through a crucial waterway. That would further restrict the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf, according to the reports. Neither outlet said that such a step has been decided, and Trump has said only that he is weighing the option.

What is still unclear

• Responsibility for Saturday's strike: it has been attributed to the Houthis, but the group has not claimed it.
• The airport's reopening: no date has been announced in the reports.
• The U.S. role: Trump has said he is considering joining Saudi strikes, but no decision was reported.

What to watch next

Three developments will shape the situation: whether Saudi Arabia reopens the airport and returns Riyadh's schools to in-person classes, whether the Houthis carry out the new strikes they have threatened, and whether Trump commits U.S. forces to the campaign against the rebels.

Sources: The Independent, ABC News