Riyadh Airport Evacuated After New Attack, Hundreds of Flights Cancelled
Riyadh airport in the Saudi capital was attacked again on Saturday and evacuated. At least 225 flights have been cancelled there in the past 24 hours.
Riyadh's airport, serving the capital of Saudi Arabia, came under attack again on Saturday, and an evacuation was carried out on its premises. Regional officials who asked not to be named confirmed this. The kingdom has recently faced a number of attacks linked to the war involving Iran.
Flights cancelled or diverted
Data from the flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 shows that flights from Riyadh are being redirected to other airports. According to FlightAware, at least 225 flights have been cancelled at the airport over the past 24 hours. Kuwait Airways announced it was cancelling flights because the airport is closed, while the Canadian embassy advised people not to go to the airport because of "military activity". Residents reported hearing explosions in Riyadh.
Background: fighting in Yemen
The airport has been hit several times, a week after a Saudi-led coalition launched a broad military offensive against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthis claimed responsibility for earlier attacks, including one on Wednesday that killed a Sudanese national.
Fighting has intensified in Yemen between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia. The coalition is providing air support to government troops as it tries to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea.
The rebels' advances have allowed them to monitor shipping more closely in a corridor that serves as an important alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has attacked vessels.
