On 2024-01-29 the Houthi movement said it had launched a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saria declared, "Our armed forces <…> attacked King Khalid International Airport in <…> Riyadh with a ballasting missile. The strike was precise," underscoring the group’s assertion of accuracy.
Also on 2024-01-29 the Houthis asserted they had struck the Khamis Mushait air base with a drone. Saria added, "The armed forces performed an operation to target the Khamis Mushait air base with a drone as well, and the hit was direct with Allah's grace," presenting the drone hit as successful.
YEMEN’S HOUTHIS SAY THEY TARGETED RIYADH AIRPORT WITH A BALLISTIC MISSILE ON MONDAY AND AN AIR BASE IN SAUDI ARABIA’S KHAMIS MUSHAIT WITH A DRONE, WITH NO IMMEDIATE SAUDI CONFIRMATION OF THE HOUTHIS’ STATEMENT
Repeating his message, Saria said, "With Allah's grace and support our armed forces were able to target Khaled International Airport in the capital of the Saudi enemy, Riyadh, this evening and the hit was precise," and later reiterated, "Our armed forces were able to target (King) Khalid International Airport in the Saudi enemy's capital Riyadh this evening with a ballistic missile and the hit was precise." The spokesperson highlighted the precision of the attacks, as reflected in his repeated statements.
On 2026-10-05 the Saudi‑led coalition announced it had shot down a missile over Riyadh.
The Saudi‑led coalition countered that it had earlier repelled a Houthi missile attack aimed at Riyadh. This claim of interception was later echoed by a specific event: on 2026-10-05 the coalition reported it had shot down a missile over Riyadh, indicating an interception of the reported attack.
Yemen Houthis claim attack on Riyadh Airport and Khamis Mushait air base in Saudi Arabia
Following the asserted strikes, the Houthis issued a stark advisory to international carriers. Saria warned, "We renew our warning to all international airlines against the consequences of operating flights to Saudi airports, which are unsafe except the airports and airspace of the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah." The warning was repeated on 2026-10-12, reinforcing the message that Saudi airspace outside the two holy cities posed a risk.
Returning to the drone operation, Saria’s statement that the armed forces "performed an operation to target the Khamis Mushait air base with a drone as well, and the hit was direct with Allah's grace" served as a concise reminder of the group’s claim of dual‑target capability on the same day.
Houthis say they hit Riyadh airport and Khamis Mushait air base https://t.co/tOjXALYHGy https://t.co/On8WYvi97U
On 2026-10-05 the Saudi‑led coalition announced it had shot down a missile over Riyadh. This interception was presented as a defensive success against a Houthi‑launched projectile, continuing the pattern of mid‑flight thwarting.
Just over a week later, on 2026-10-12, the Houthis said they had attacked Riyadh airport with a ballistic missile. The later claim repeated the earlier statement about targeting Riyadh airport.
On the same date, 2026-10-12, the Houthis again warned international airlines about the dangers of flying to Saudi airports, reiterating that only the airports and airspace of Makkah and Madinah were considered safe.