Residents of Riyadh heard multiple blasts on Monday night as Saudi air defences engaged a fresh Houthi attack. The Saudi-led coalition said a Riyadh missile intercepted by its defences had been destroyed before it reached the capital. The missile was fired by Yemen’s Houthi movement, the coalition said.
Saudi Arabia had earlier issued a warning alert for a possible hostile aerial threat over Riyadh, Reuters reported. The blasts came hours after the coalition said it had intercepted missiles and drones aimed at the kingdom, including areas that hold key oil and gas facilities.
Monday night’s interception marks the third straight day of attacks on Saudi Arabia. It also shows that the kingdom’s air defences remain under sustained pressure, despite a weekend of warnings and a promised response.
Riyadh missile intercepted after a deadly weekend
The latest attack follows the deadliest strikes on Saudi soil in years. On Saturday, a projectile hit King Khalid International Airport and killed 12 people. More than 300 others were wounded. A second strike on Sunday killed one more person, a Pakistani resident, and wounded 11 others. An Indian citizen wounded on Saturday died of his injuries on Sunday, which took the known toll to at least 14.
The airport has stayed shut since the weekend. Authorities have extended the closure of Riyadh airport to complete safety checks and restore operational readiness. Reports on Monday said operations could remain suspended until October 17. The US Federal Aviation Administration has advised American airlines to use caution in parts of Saudi airspace.
Early on Monday, the coalition also intercepted a ballistic missile heading for Khamis Mushait, a southern city with a major military base. A drone was brought down in the eastern region, where Dammam airport was also targeted over the weekend.
What the escalation means for Pakistan
Pakistan has direct stakes in the kingdom’s security. Millions of Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia, and they include staff at airports, oil facilities and construction sites across the country. Sunday’s casualty was a reminder of that exposure. A third tanker struck a mine in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday as well, which underlines how the wider conflict keeps spreading across the region’s energy routes.
Islamabad condemned the weekend attacks, and its energy diplomacy ran in parallel with the crisis. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik was in Riyadh this week, where he sought wider energy supplies for Pakistan and restated Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia. Any long airport closure also affects Pakistani travellers, including Umrah pilgrims who route through Riyadh.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman addressed oil executives in Riyadh on Sunday. He said the kingdom remained committed to energy security and would respond seriously to the attacks. The Saudi-led coalition has already called Saturday’s airport strike a war crime and promised a decisive response.
What happens next depends on two tracks. The first is military: whether Houthi launches continue for a fourth day. The second is aviation: whether Saudi officials judge the airport safe enough to reopen before October 17. For now, Monday night’s blasts suggest the first track is still active.
Who fired the missile at Riyadh on Monday night?
The Saudi-led coalition said Yemen’s Houthi movement fired the ballistic missile towards Riyadh. Coalition defences destroyed it before it reached the capital.
How many people died in the weekend strikes on Saudi Arabia?
At least 14 people have died. Twelve were killed at King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, a Pakistani resident was killed on Sunday, and an Indian citizen wounded on Saturday died on Sunday. More than 300 people were wounded.
Is Riyadh airport open?
No. King Khalid International Airport has been closed since the weekend strikes. Saudi authorities extended the closure for safety checks, and reports on Monday said operations could stay suspended until October 17.
