Saudi Arabia probes air defence failure as Riyadh airport stays shut after Houthi strikes
Saudi Arabia is investigating how Houthi missiles and drones breached its defences and hit Riyadh airport, killing at least 13 people and injuring hundreds, with the airport closed until Saturday.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Saudi Arabia investigates air defence failure after deadly Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport
Saudi Arabia has opened an investigation into how Houthi missiles and drones breached its air defences and hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as the airport remains closed and flights are cancelled or diverted.
The weekend attacks killed at least 13 people at the airport on Saturday and injured more than 300, according to Saudi officials and later reports. A further strike on Sunday killed one person and wounded 11. Some reports put the combined death toll at 14 and the number injured at 320. The first reports said 12 people had been killed. Among those killed were Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, an American, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, a Palestinian and a Sudanese citizen, according to Saudi Arabia's aviation authority. One victim was named as a Syrian mother of four.
The Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility. They said they targeted airports and air bases in Riyadh, Jazan and Najran, and also an Aramco gas plant. A Houthi armed forces spokesperson warned airlines and passengers not to use Saudi airports or airspace, except Mecca and Medina, calling them potential targets. A senior Houthi spokesperson told a broadcaster that the group was sorry civilians died but blamed Saudi Arabia for ignoring warnings that airports had become legitimate military targets.
Saudi Arabia called the attack a war crime and promised a serious and forceful response. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted some ballistic missiles fired at Riyadh; debris damaged a kindergarten and a medical clinic. The coalition also said it was dealing with drones and missiles heading towards the kingdom after the airport strikes. Saudi forces responded with more airstrikes on Houthi-controlled Sana'a, where at least one person was killed, and fighting continued in Taiz province.
The attack caused major disruption. King Khalid International Airport was closed, hundreds of flights were cancelled or diverted, and airlines including Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways cancelled flights to Riyadh and other Saudi airports. Schools in Riyadh switched to remote learning for the week for the second time in less than a month. The UK Foreign Office advised British nationals to stay away from the airport until it was secure, and later advised against all travel to Saudi Arabia or against all but essential travel to Jeddah, Dammam and all airports except Medina. Other Western diplomatic missions issued similar warnings.
International reaction was swift. The United Nations Secretary General said he was deeply shocked. President Donald Trump condemned the attack and said the United States would look at whether to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis. 'We're going to look at it,' he said. 'We move very quickly.' The US Secretary of State also condemned the attack and confirmed an American citizen was among the dead. UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the UK was already supporting Saudi Arabia with air-to-air refuelling and ground-based air defence, and that more support could be provided, but he ruled out offensive operations at this stage and called for a diplomatic solution.
The strikes are part of a wider escalation. Yemen's civil war has pitted the Iran-backed Houthis against the internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition. A truce had largely held for about four years before breaking down in recent months. The Houthis have advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast and threatened the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial shipping route. Saudi Arabia has been trying to protect its oil exports after Iran's disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis have also targeted Saudi energy facilities and airports, raising concerns about global energy supplies and oil prices.
The United States has been weighing a bigger role. It has already struck a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman as part of its naval blockade against Iran. Iran has offered to mediate in Yemen, a proposal dismissed by analysts because of its support for the Houthis. European Union ministers were due to discuss the conflict. Saudi Arabia's energy minister said the response must be serious, as the kingdom hosted a major energy conference in Riyadh. Some oil executives and the US Commerce Secretary did not attend. The conflict remains closely tied to the wider US and Israel war with Iran, with the Houthis seen as one of Iran's remaining proxies and a threat to regional trade.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Widely reported · 4 or more of 5 channels | |||||
| A fresh strike was reported to have hit Riyadh airport after a deadly attack killed 12 people and injured hundreds. | Reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | |||
| Casualty reports from the Riyadh airport attack varied, with Saudi Arabia reporting three deaths including a pilot named Hamoud Ali al-Qathami, and unconfirmed reports of at least two killed and dozens injured. | Reported by ITV | ||||
| Saudi Arabia reported that a Houthi attack on Riyadh International Airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300, called it a war crime, and said the dead included four Saudi citizens and nationals of several other countries. | |||||
| Saudi authorities called the attack a war crime and promised a forceful response. | Reported by Channel 4 | ||||
| Houthis claimed they attacked airports across Saudi Arabia, including multiple strikes on Riyadh Airport. | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by Sky News | |||
| The Houthis warned airlines and passengers not to use Saudi airports or airspace, with exceptions for Mecca and Medina airports. | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |||
| The UK Foreign Office advised British nationals to stay away until the airport is secure. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by Sky News | ||
| Reported by a few · 2–3 channels | |||||
| Iran was attempting to mediate and consolidate Houthi gains. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Sky News | |||
| President Trump said the US would consider joining Saudi strikes and decide quickly. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | |||
| The Houthis control or are seeking to dominate the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, with operations around Taiz, raising concerns about global exports and prices. | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| The UK was providing support to Saudi Arabia through air defences and air-to-air refuelling. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News | |
| A boat sinking off Djibouti killed at least 139 asylum seekers. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| A Saudi-backed pro-government offensive was launched this week to retake Sana'a and coastal areas, including Bab al-Mandab. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Riyadh airport's closure was extended to Saturday. | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The attack was the deadliest in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | |
| The Houthis are backed by Iran. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| The Prime Minister identified Iranians as the chief suspect for operations on British soil. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| The US military struck a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman as part of its naval blockade against Iran, with US Central Command saying a fighter jet disabled the stern of a Panama-flagged ship. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Reported by ITV | |
| Two attacks killed at least 14 people and injured hundreds. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Only on one channel | |||||
| A further missile strike was intercepted later that evening. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Dammam Airport in eastern Saudi Arabia was also targeted. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| EU ministers were due to discuss the conflict on Monday. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for striking a third supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz within two days. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| More than 200,000 people were reported displaced and hundreds killed on both sides since the latest advances in Yemen. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| One identified victim was Bothayna Uueda, a Syrian mother of four. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Qatar Airways and Etihad cancelled flights to Riyadh and other Saudi airports. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Sana'a International Airport, controlled by the Houthis, was hit in Saudi airstrikes. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Saudi Arabia launched an investigation into how its air defences failed. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a ballistic missile in Al-Kharj Governorate, roughly 100 kilometres from Riyadh. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Saudi Arabia spent more than 83 billion dollars on defence last year. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| Saudi forces launched airstrikes on Houthi-controlled Sana'a, killing at least one person, and fought in Taiz. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| Saudi officials did not confirm any strikes. | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The attacks marked an escalation in military confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The conflict is a major factor in pressure on international oil prices. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by Sky News | |
| The Houthi spokesman expressed regret for civilian casualties but denied responsibility and blamed Saudi Arabia. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| The Houthis apologised for the loss of life and warned that Saudi airports would be targeted. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| The Houthis joined the side of Palestinians and Hamas during the Gaza war. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The Houthis said they targeted an Aramco gas plant. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The strike followed two previous attacks earlier in the week. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| The UK said it was not looking at offensive operations at that stage. | Not reported by BBC News | Reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
| The UK sanctioned two more IRGC members with an asset freeze and travel ban, including one head of counter-espionage operations. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | |
| UK Maritime Trade Operations reclassified a tanker incident off Oman as a drone attack. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| UK Minister for Defence Industry and Readiness Luke Pollard rejected the Houthi denial of responsibility, maintaining that firing a missile at a civilian target carries accountability. | Not reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Reported by Sky News |
| UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply shocked. | Reported by BBC News | Not reported by BBC One | Not reported by Channel 4 | Not reported by ITV | Not reported by Sky News |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This bulletin framed the strikes as a Houthi messaging operation against symbolic targets, with the airport chosen to show reach inside Saudi Arabia. It stressed disruption to airlines and regional trade, and noted Saudi officials had not confirmed the strikes at that point. It also set the attacks inside the wider Yemen war and recent Houthi advances.
- “The Houthis say they attacked airports across the country, including multiple strikes on Riyadh Airport.”
- “Airports are not only transportation hubs, they are symbols of connectivity, economic activity and state authority.”
- “More than 200,000 people have been displaced since the latest advances and hundreds have reportedly been killed on both sides of the conflict.”
This report focused on Saudi confirmation of three deaths, including a named pilot, and used expert analysis to explain Houthi military reach and the wider Yemen conflict. It described the attacks as a new intensification and discussed whether the Houthis are simply an Iranian proxy.
- “Saudi Arabia says three people, including a pilot, have been killed in Houthi attacks on the international airport in Riyadh on Thursday.”
- “This was probably the strongest hit against actual Saudis themselves.”
- “We're seeing now in Yemen is close to an all-out war across the whole of the country”
This channel carried rolling updates, moving from early unconfirmed reports of two dead to the confirmed toll of 12 dead and more than 300 injured. It gave heavy weight to UK travel advice, the Houthi warning to airlines, and analysis of why Saudi air defences struggle against drones and missiles.
- “In Saudi Arabia, there's been a missile attack on Riyadh's international airport, suspected to have been carried out by the Iranian-backed Houthis.”
- “At least 12 people have died in that attack on the international airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. More than 300 have been injured.”
- “The Houthis have warned Airlines against using Saudi airspace saying that this continues to be a potential target for them”
This rolling news coverage led with the official Saudi death toll and the war crime charge, then moved to international reaction and US options. It repeatedly highlighted the nationalities of victims, the closure of the airport and the risk of a wider US-Iran confrontation. Later updates noted a second strike on Sunday and a higher Saturday toll.
- “Saudi Arabia says that a Houthi attack killed 12 people and injured more than 300 people at the Riyadh International Airport in Saudi Arabia.”
- “The Saudi authorities are calling it a war crime.”
- “It is among the deadliest attacks on a Gulf country since the start of the US-Iran war.”
This morning bulletin gave a concise top story, with exact casualty figures and the Houthi claim. It stressed that the strike was the deadliest in any Gulf Arab state since the Iran war began, and linked it to US naval action against Iran.
- “At least 12 people have been killed and 309 injured in an attack on an airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh”
- “Iran backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for the strike on King Khalid International Airport following two previous attacks earlier in the week”
- “What strike marks the deadliest attack in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war”
The programme treated the attack as a key item in a wider political panel, linking it to global instability, energy concerns and the prospect of Western intervention. It pressed the defence secretary on whether the UK could join offensive operations, and highlighted fears about the Davos in the Desert conference.
- “At least 12 people have died in that attack on the international airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. More than 300 have been injured.”
- “A Saudi-led military coalition vowed to respond, called it a war crime, and blamed it on Yemen's Houthis.”
- “Well, that's not what we're looking at at this stage. And we've always been clear that there isn't a military solution to this conflict.”
This bulletin combined official reaction from London with a warning from the Houthis to airlines. Its correspondent framed the attack as part of a rapid escalation and suggested the US could get drawn in to keep the Bab al-Mandab Strait open.
- “At least 12 people have been killed and 309 injured in an attack on an airport in the Saudi capital.”
- “This is the third time that Khalid International Airport has been targeted just this week.”
- “The Yemeni armed forces reiterate their warning to all aviation companies, experts, employees, workers, and travelers against using Saudi airports and airspace as they are potential targets”
ITV led with the human impact, showing survivors including children, and stressed that the strike was the deadliest in Saudi Arabia since the Iran war began. It tied the attack to the Saudi-led offensive in Yemen and the threat to the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
- “At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the strike in Riyadh carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen.”
- “The Houthis have now claimed responsibility, warning against using Saudi airports, calling them potential targets.”
- “And now the UK Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Saudi Arabia.”
The podcast discussion placed the attack in a domestic political and economic context, focusing on UK support for Saudi Arabia, diesel prices and the budget. It also raised alleged Iranian activity on British soil.
- “12 people at least have been killed, over 300 people injured.”
- “We're already supporting Saudi Arabia. We're supporting Saudi with air-to-air refuelling support that enables them to fly.”
- “this is a very dangerous situation which is putting up the prices of diesel”
This shorter ITV bulletin repeated the main figures and the Trump reaction, with a strong focus on UK travel advice and the risk to two vital shipping routes. It also included a separate boat disaster off Djibouti.
- “At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the strike in Riyadh, carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen.”
- “The Houthis have now claimed responsibility, warning against using Saudi airports, calling them potential targets”
- “the UK Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Saudi Arabia”
This evening wrap reported a second day of strikes on the same airport and a new attack on Dammam, broadening the picture beyond Riyadh. It gave prominence to the Houthi warning to travellers and to questions about Saudi air defences.
- “the passenger terminal at the International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh has been struck again a day after a missile hit the same terminal yesterday, killing 12 people and injuring 300 others.”
- “Tonight, Dammam Airport in the Kingdom's eastern province has also been targeted.”
- “The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels said they carried out the attacks and repeated a warning to international travellers and companies using Saudi's airports.”
This report focused on the global energy threat, explaining how Houthi attacks could affect oil flows and prices. It included on-the-ground reporting from Yemen and described a Saudi pledge of decisive retaliation alongside Trump's dilemma.
- “They were behind an attack this weekend on neighboring Saudi Arabia, killing 12 people and injuring over 300 at the international airport in the capital, Riyadh.”
- “They've warned airlines and passengers against using Saudi airports and airspace.”
- “The Houthis are saying that Saudi airspace remains a target. They are telling airlines to stay away”
This bulletin led with a second deadly strike in two days, updated the Saturday toll to 13 dead, and noted that King Khalid had been hit four times in five days. Its correspondent stressed the political significance of a US citizen being killed and the risk to oil prices.
- “the second attack in as many days on Saudi Arabia's international airport in Riyadh has left one person dead and 11 injured.”
- “The strike on Khalid Airport on Saturday killed 13 people and injured hundreds more.”
- “The King Khalid has been attacked four times in five days by the Houthis.”
Channel 4 gave a more analytical and sceptical account, noting the airport closure, Saudi airstrikes on Sana'a and the limits of Saudi air defences. It examined Houthi weapons production and included an expert who dismissed Iran's offer to mediate as not credible.
- “Riyadh's King Khalid airport will stay closed until Saturday after it was hit by the Houthi attacks over the weekend which killed 14 people and injured at least 320.”
- “Saudi forces have responded with more airstrikes on Yemen's Houthi controlled capital Sana'a where at least one person was killed.”
- “They have drones, they have ballistic missiles and the Iranians are willing to even give them more support to inflict more damage in the region.”
The Context set the attack inside the long Yemen civil war and the Bab al-Mandab shipping threat. It used on-the-ground reporting and an expert interview to ask whether diplomacy is possible and whether Iran is trying to freeze Houthi gains.
- “Yemen's Houthi rebels have renewed their attacks against Saudi Arabia firing more drones and missiles into the country.”
- “On Saturday, 13 people were killed and hundreds wounded in an attack on King Khalid International Airport. Another strike on the airport on Sunday left one person dead and 11 injured.”
- “The Iranian backed Houthis say they're targeting Saudi Arabia because of its support for government forces in Yemen Civil War.”
The late ITV bulletin emphasised Saudi Arabia's promise of a serious response and the pressure on oil prices. It also covered Iran's offer to mediate and the wider concern about Tehran's proxy network.
- “Saudi Arabia warned tonight of what it called a serious response after a series of deadly attacks by Houthi forces on the Kingdom's airports and oil and gas plants”
- “Another missile strike was intercepted only this evening.”
- “the deadliest assault on any Gulf country since the start of the war in Iran”
This wrap gave space to a Houthi spokesperson, who denied targeting civilians and blamed Saudi Arabia for ignoring warnings. The studio discussion focused on the asymmetry of the conflict and the difficulty of finding any political settlement.
- “at least 14 people were killed, more than 300 injured in two attacks.”
- “Our goal, our intention, our target is not to kill civilians. Our target is to impose an air blockade for the Saudis.”
- “The responsibility is borne on the Saudis.”
This segment led on the Houthi spokesperson's attempt to shift blame to Saudi Arabia, and paired it with UK domestic security claims about Iran. It was shorter and focused on the war of words.
- “a Senior PT spokesperson has told Sky News that Saudi Arabia is to blame for civilian deaths in Riyadh over the weekend”
- “It says the group which is backed by Iran is truly Sorry that people lost their lives, but insists they gave Saudi Arabia fair warning that airports would be targeted”
- “We do not pay responsibility for the death. The responsibility is born on the Saudis”
This bulletin focused on the Saudi investigation into the air defence failure and the practical disruption, including airport closure and flight cancellations by Qatar Airways and Etihad. Its correspondent described the security breach as embarrassing for Riyadh.
- “Saudi Arabia is reported to have launched an investigation to find out how its air defences failed to intercept missiles and drones fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen after a series of deadly attacks on Riyadh International Airport.”
- “It is now closed until Saturday.”
- “the worst attack on King Khalid International Airport was on Saturday. That's when 13 people were killed there.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.