Saudi Arabia’s main airport in the capital Riyadh resumed limited flight operations on Wednesday, two days after airlines were notified that they could restart services with prior permission, following multiple attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels this month.
Only Saudi airlines were operating at King Khalid International Airport on Wednesday, according to flight-tracking data published by FlightAware.
Saudia and Flynas were operating flights, while major international carriers, including Lufthansa and Air France, had cancelled services through mid-November.
The airport was struck multiple times by Houthi rebels this month and was shut down on October 10. The decline in air traffic could have longer-term economic implications for Saudi Arabia beyond the direct damage caused by the attacks.
The Houthis have acknowledged targeting the airport, claiming, without providing evidence, that Saudi Arabia used the facility to supply military equipment to government forces.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed five Houthi drones launched towards Saudi Arabia over the holy city of Medina on Wednesday.
In Yemen, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said a ballistic missile struck a military camp near Aden airport. A transportation ministry official said airport operations were temporarily suspended, but the runway was undamaged and a civilian aircraft had departed before the strike.