October 12, 2026
On Saturday, Western warnings expanded to include calling on citizens of Canada, Germany, Spain, and the United States to avoid King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, against the backdrop of the attack that targeted the facility and reports of internal evacuations.
In this context, the US mission to the Kingdom issued a security alert confirming its knowledge of the attacks that targeted the airport, strongly calling on American citizens to stay away from it and the surrounding areas. The embassy warned of the possibility of canceling flights, closing airspace, and causing widespread travel disruptions, recommending travelers to check directly with airline companies and airport management regarding flight schedules.
The mission imposed additional restrictions requiring US government employees working in Saudi Arabia to obtain a special permit to use King Khalid International Airport. The restrictions also included preventing them from traveling within a 20-mile radius of the Saudi-Yemeni border for security reasons, and imposing special permits to travel to the regions of Jizan, Asir, and Najran, in addition to the cities of Qatif, Yanbu, and Taif.
The Spanish Embassy confirmed, via the “X” platform, that there had been a “new attack” that resulted in evacuations, coinciding with the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation’s announcement that the airport had been attacked on Saturday afternoon, leading to casualties that are being counted. Accordingly, the Authority decided to temporarily suspend operational operations at the airport until the damage assessment is completed and the safety of the facilities is verified in coordination with the competent authorities.
