A US Embassy Warning Puts Saudi Airports Back in the Spotlight

The US Mission to Saudi Arabia issued a countrywide security alert dated November 2 warning that Iranian-supported Houthis have attacked civilian airports and other critical infrastructure in the kingdom. The alert says the attacks have caused civilian casualties and major travel disruption, and it cautions that hostilities could escalate quickly and spread.

The advisory builds on steps taken in late October. Since October 23, the State Department has ordered non-emergency US government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport partially reopened that day for domestic flights and some international flights by national carriers, and some Riyadh flights operate from Qassim. Jeddah and Dammam airports are running with delays and cancellations. According to Scripps News, Lufthansa and Air France cancelled Riyadh flights through mid-November.

The embassy notes that land crossings, including the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain, remain open, and that airports in Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Qatar and the UAE are operating. It also warns that filming or sharing information about counter-missile and counter-drone efforts, including impact sites, can create legal liability, and that US citizens have been detained for photographing government buildings, airports and impact sites.

Recommended actions include enrolling in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and following Saudi Civil Defense cell-broadcast alerts. Government staff need approval to use any Saudi airport and may not travel within 20 miles of the Yemen border. Travelers with plans involving Saudi Arabia should check directly with their airline and review the full alert text before departure.

Sources: US Embassy & Consulates in Saudi Arabia, Scripps News