Saudi Capital Reopens Air Hub as Houthi Spox Declares Facility Unsafe

King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resumed flight operations on Sunday, 25 October, ending a two-week closure triggered by Houthi missile and drone strikes. Flight Radar tracking data confirmed the first departure, a domestic flight to Jeddah, exited the capital early on Sunday morning. New Terminal Protocols Airport authorities announced a reconfiguration of terminal assignments to manage the restart. Terminal 1 is now designated for domestic flights, while Terminal 2 will handle international services operated by national carriers. The reopening follows a period of heightened security after an earlier Houthi attack on the facility resulted in 13 deaths and more than 300 injuries, marking the deadliest strike on Saudi soil in over a decade. The resumption of civil aviation comes despite immediate threats from the Houthi movement. Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Iran-backed group, issued a statement on Sunday declaring the airport remains a "military target" and "unsafe" for international, regional, and local airlines. Saree warned that the Saudi government would be responsible for the safety of travellers using the facility. Escalation in Regional Conflict The Saudi-led military coalition reported the interception of two additional drones in the Riyadh area early on Sunday, 25 October. The surge in hostilities follows the collapse of a long-standing truce during the summer months, which has intensified the conflict between the Saudi-backed Yemeni…