After two terrifying weeks on the ground, planes are finally taking off from Riyadh again. But is it actually safe to fly?

Here’s what we know, and why this tiny runway reopening tells a much bigger story about the Middle East right now.

For passengers stranded across the Kingdom, Sunday morning brought a sigh of relief. Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has partially resumed both domestic and international flights.

Flight Radar data early on Sunday showed the first bird in the air — a flight departing Riyadh for Jeddah — breaking a two-week total shutdown that left thousands stuck.

If you’ve got a ticket, though, don’t just dash to the airport. Officials are still urging all passengers to ring their airline first to confirm their booking. Operations are partial, not normal, and schedules remain chaotic.

And the flashpoint is far from over. The Iran-backed group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, has already warned that the airport remains “unsafe” and is still considered a “military target”, threatening more attacks to come.

13 Lives Lost, 300 Wounded.

This isn’t just about delayed flights. Behind the closure is a devastating attack.

Earlier this month, Houthi strikes on Riyadh, including directly on the airport facility, killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, in one of the deadliest attacks on the Saudi capital in years.

Imagine being a baggage handler, a check-in agent, or a family waiting in departures. One minute you’re waiting to board, the next you’re running for shelter. That trauma is why this partial reopening feels so fragile for ordinary Saudis and the millions of expat workers who call Riyadh home.

On Sunday, the Saudi-led military coalition said it had already shot down two drones over the Riyadh area — a reminder that the skies are still contested.

Why This Matters?

So why are Yemen’s Houthis hitting Riyadh now?

1. Historical Context: The war in Yemen started in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa. Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015, leading a coalition to restore the government. Since then, the Houthis have regularly fired missiles and drones into Saudi territory — airports, oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais, and even the 2022 Jeddah Grand Prix.

2. The Regional Escalation: This latest wave is different. The conflict has become a destabilising second front in the wider US-Israeli offensive against Iran. By striking Riyadh — a key US ally — the Houthis are turning Saudi Arabia into a pressure point to force de-escalation elsewhere.

For Saudi Arabia, which has spent the last few years under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman trying to rebrand itself with Vision 2030, NEOM, and tourism, an unsafe capital airport is an economic nightmare.

Why are airports a “Military Target”?

Under international law, civilian airports are protected. But the Houthis claim King Khalid is dual-use — used for military logistics for the Saudi-led coalition. Riyadh denies this, saying it’s purely civilian, making any attack a war crime.

The Houthi playbook is to use long-range Samad and Quds drones and ballistic missiles that can travel over 1,000km from Yemen to Riyadh. Saudi air defences — US-made Patriot systems — intercept most, but not all.

What Happens Next?

1. Expect Disruption: Partial means partial. Expect cancellations, heavy security screening, and last-minute reroutes. Check with Saudia, Flynas, and Flyadeal before you travel.

2. Retaliation Risk: The Saudi-led coalition is likely to ramp up airstrikes on Houthi positions around Sanaa and Hodeidah.

3. Diplomatic Squeeze: With Washington pressing Riyadh to maintain regional stability, Saudi Arabia will be under immense pressure to both defend its skies and avoid being dragged into a full-blown regional war with Iran.

For now, that one flight to Jeddah is a symbol of resilience. But with both sides vowing more action, passengers flying into Riyadh are flying into uncertainty.

Stay with cbinewstv.com for live flight updates.

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