Houthi missile and drone attacks disrupting Saudi Arabian airports

Timeline

1. September 8, 2026

   The wider US-Iran conflict escalated sharply during 1-7 September: the US struck Iranian military sites on 1 September (reportedly killing at least 12 people, including at a wedding celebration), and Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes on US-linked targets in Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq - though Saudi Arabia was not among the countries directly struck in this round. By 6-7 September the US had struck three Iranian oil tankers, Iran fired missiles toward two US carriers, and Iran's security council announced plans for a new "restricted zone" extending from the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf. Independent of this, southern Saudi airports remain disrupted: Jazan and Najran international airports were closed and Abha operated under restricted overnight hours (roughly 15:00-03:00 UTC) through at least 6 September because of the ongoing Houthi threat, while Riyadh and Jeddah continue operating normally. No new Houthi missile or drone attack on Saudi Arabia has been confirmed since the 24 August tanker strike.

   Source

2. August 29, 2026

   No new Houthi attacks on Saudi airports have been confirmed since 20-21 August, extending the pause noted in the prior update, though Houthi forces reportedly launched a ballistic missile at the Saudi-owned supertanker AMZAN in the Red Sea on 24 August, showing maritime risk near the Yemen coast persists even as direct airport strikes have paused. Riyadh's King Khalid and Jeddah's King Abdulaziz international airports continue operating normally. Separately, US Central Command declared on 27 August that Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes had been cleared of Iranian mines, a milestone for the wider regional security picture, though allied governments have voiced skepticism about the claim. Travelers to southern Saudi Arabia near the Yemen border and Red Sea coast should continue verifying flights and monitoring NOTAMs.

   Source

3. August 27, 2026

   No new Houthi attacks on Saudi airports or oil infrastructure were reported this week, and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport and Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport continue operating normally. Iran recorded no ballistic missile or drone launches on 27 August, extending a state-on-state de-escalation trend running since 23 August. Houthi-Saudi hostilities remain a distinct, unresolved track independent of the wider Iran-US ceasefire dynamics, so periodic disruption near the Yemen border and Red Sea coast remains possible; travelers should continue verifying flights before travelling.

   Source

4. August 23, 2026

   Regional tracking shows no Iranian ballistic missile or drone launches for four consecutive nights through 23 August, and Iranian air defenses are assessed as roughly 90% degraded - a modest de-escalation in direct state-on-state fire, though Houthi attacks on Saudi targets continue independently. Riyadh's King Khalid and Jeddah's King Abdulaziz international airports remain open; ESCAT emergency airspace procedures could still activate with little notice.

   Source

5. August 21, 2026

   Houthi forces claimed drone strikes on Najran Airport and an adjacent Aramco facility in southwest Saudi Arabia on 20-21 August, saying both operations 'successfully achieved their objectives.' Saudi authorities and Aramco have not confirmed any damage or disruption. Riyadh and Jeddah airports remain fully operational; disruption risk is concentrated in the Kingdom's south near the Yemen border. Travelers to southern Saudi cities should check NOTAMs before flying.

   Source

6. August 19, 2026

   Iran rejected a proposed ceasefire on 19 August and demanded an end to hostilities, while UAE air defences detected two ballistic missiles fired from Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz the same day. EASA escalated its advisory to recommend avoiding the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and the Gulf of Oman west of 58°E entirely through 31 August, reflecting the wider regional risk environment that also affects Saudi Arabia. Separately, Houthi attacks on Saudi-backed forces in Yemen and strikes on the Saudi border region (including an attack on an Aramco facility at Jazan and strikes near Najran) have continued through August, among the most intense in years. Riyadh and Jeddah remain broadly operational; travelers should continue verifying flights before travelling, particularly near the Yemen border and Red Sea coast.

   Source

7. August 18, 2026

   The regional ceasefire announced in April and later extended broke down again this month, with violations centred around the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthi movement has resumed attacks on Saudi Arabia after roughly four years of de facto truce, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced alarm over renewed Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea this week. Yemen's Mokha port has suspended operations due to the attacks. This keeps regional risk elevated for Saudi Arabia, though Riyadh and Jeddah remain broadly operational; travelers should continue verifying flights before travelling, particularly near the Yemen border and Red Sea coast.

   Source

8. August 13, 2026

   Regional tensions escalated further after Houthi forces attacked a cargo ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait reportedly carrying Saudi military equipment, killing six crew members - the first fatalities from Red Sea shipping attacks in over a year. The Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on 20 July, and with the Strait of Hormuz effectively restricted by Iran, more shipping risk has shifted onto this southern route. No new strike on Saudi airports was confirmed for 13 August; Riyadh and Jeddah remain broadly operational, though travelers should continue verifying flights before travelling, particularly near the Yemen border and Red Sea coast.

   Source

9. August 9, 2026

   Houthi attacks killed seven people in Yemen and targeted an Aramco facility in Jazan, southwestern Saudi Arabia, where a resulting fire was extinguished. This marked a further escalation of Houthi strikes against Saudi-adjacent targets during August.

   Source

10. August 6, 2026

    357 flight delays and 82 cancellations disrupted Saudi Arabian airports on 6 August amid continued Red Sea security tensions and airspace restrictions linked to the Houthi campaign.

    Source

11. August 1, 2026

    298 flight delays and 98 cancellations hit Saudi Arabian airports on 1 August, driven by Red Sea security tensions and airspace restrictions. Americans in the region are advised to be prepared for further flight cancellations and periodic airspace closures.

    Source

12. July 14, 2026

    Houthi forces launched missiles and drones at Abha International Airport in a sharp escalation, in response to strikes on Sanaa airport they attributed to Saudi Arabia - the first direct attack on Saudi territory since the 2022 truce froze the Yemen war. No casualties were reported.

    Source