Saudi Civil Defense Says Houthi Missile Debris Injured 4 in Riyadh as State Department Restricts Staff Airport Use

Since the Houthis' Oct. 10 missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, the war has spread beyond the airport. On Tuesday night, Oct. 13, it reached Riyadh's residential streets and an Aramco site in the Eastern Province.

Saudi Civil Defense said debris from two intercepted Houthi missiles fell on residential areas of Riyadh, injuring four people and damaging 15 homes. The Saudi Press Agency said the injured were two women, a man and a child. Civil Defense images showed shattered windows it attributed to falling shrapnel.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy said a limited fire broke out in an administrative building at an Aramco facility in the Eastern Province. It reported no injuries.

Washington restricts its own people

The State Department issued a security alert Tuesday requiring U.S. government employees in Saudi Arabia to get special authorization from a chief of mission before using any airport in the kingdom. Employees also may not travel within 20 miles of the Yemen border. They need special authorization to go to Jizan, Asir and Najran provinces, and to the cities of Qatif, Yanbu and Taif.

"U.S. citizens should be aware of potential attacks on airports, flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions," the alert says.

Saudi civil aviation authorities have suspended operations at King Khalid International through Oct. 17. According to the State Department, Jeddah's King Abdulaziz and Dammam's King Fahd airports are still operating, with delays and cancellations.

The coalition hits back

The Saudi-led coalition confirmed Tuesday that it struck oil sites across western Yemen, including in Sanaa and in Dhamar and Saada provinces. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki wrote on X that the targets were facilities used to "supply the war effort" and to "threaten the kingdom, Yemen, the southern Red Sea and waterways."

The coalition described the strikes as a response to the deadliest attack on Saudi soil in years. Blasts were heard in Riyadh and near the Aramco facility shortly afterward, witnesses and journalists told AFP.

The Houthis have said they are targeting Saudi shipping as part of a blockade, in retaliation for one imposed on them. A Houthi military spokesman warned travelers and airlines to avoid Saudi airports and claimed "Saudi Arabia bears responsibility for any failed interceptions."

The question of why those interceptions failed on Oct. 10 is still hanging over Riyadh. Saudi officials have not publicly explained how the missiles reached the terminals.

Trump's decision

On Saturday, Trump said of joining Saudi strikes: "We may. We're going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack. So we'll make a decision. We move very quickly." On Monday, Oct. 12, he told reporters the Houthis are "misbehaving very badly" and called the airport attack "not acceptable." He confirmed he had spoken with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

No decision has been announced. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack and said an American citizen was among the dead.

The Houthis have answered in advance. Political bureau member Mohammed Al Bukhaiti told AFP: "If the US becomes involved in the aggression against Yemen, we will not deliberate over the decision to respond, rather, there will be a swift and painful response targeting the US and all its interests in the region." He also warned workers at Saudi oil facilities and airports to stay away because they "have become legitimate targets."

There is a record to weigh. Newsweek reported that Trump twice last month declined MBS's requests to bomb the Houthis, instead giving Riyadh intelligence and targeting data. According to Newsweek, officials told the Saudis the directive was to keep U.S. forces focused on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. Newsweek also cited a Pew poll this month showing 65 percent of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the Iran war.

Asked Saturday whether the airport attack would change his stated posture against attacking Iran before the Nov. 3 midterms, Trump said, "Well, we're gonna take a look."

Regional backing and oil

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey issued a joint statement condemning the Houthi attacks "in the strongest terms" and calling them a violation of international law. The United Arab Emirates expressed solidarity with the kingdom.

Newsweek reported that Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a mutual defense pact in Mecca in August. It said they agreed last week to the "rapid deployment" of forces to the kingdom, though Turkey rules out an offensive role.

Brent crude closed Monday at $106.65, its highest since Sept. 15, then slipped 61 cents to $106.04 in early Asian trading Tuesday, according to Reuters. U.S. West Texas Intermediate was at $93.27. Traders were weighing the Saudi supply threat against an arrangement between Trump and Russia that would let Russian diesel reach international markets, alongside a temporary U.S. sanctions waiver on Russian fuel.

The Houthis have vowed to keep hitting the kingdom until Saudi strikes and what they call a blockade end. The Riyadh airport stays shut through at least Oct. 17, and the next move is Trump's.