Air India cancels all Riyadh flights till October 10 after Houthi attacks on Saudi cities
Air India has called off all flights to and from Riyadh till October 10 as Houthi rebels target Saudi cities with missiles and drones, and the Indian embassy has issued an advisory.
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The security situation in Saudi Arabia has turned grave. Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen are repeatedly attacking several important Saudi cities with missiles and explosive drones. Amid this, Air India has cancelled all its flights to and from Riyadh till October 10.
The Indian embassy in Riyadh has issued an immediate advisory for the lakhs of Indians living there. It has asked all Indians to remain very vigilant, not to step out of their homes without reason and, if necessary, to stay at a safe place or indoors. The embassy has also said that all security instructions issued by Saudi authorities through official channels must be followed strictly.
The advisory carries another important appeal. According to the embassy, videos, photographs or unverified reports related to the current missile attacks or the security situation should not be shared or reposted on social media. This risks spreading rumours and can also invite legal action under local laws. The embassy is in constant touch with local authorities for the safety of Indians in Saudi Arabia.
The situation worsened after the Houthi rebels claimed to have targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh with a ballistic missile. The Houthis had earlier also attacked Riyadh and Abha International Airport in the south. The latest attack has caused panic across the region, and several international airlines have suspended their services for now as a precaution.
Air India, India's state-owned airline, announced that it was cancelling all Riyadh flights till October 10, taking the matter seriously. The airline said the decision was taken with passenger safety as the top priority and that flights would resume only after the situation returns to normal. Following the sudden cancellations, many Indian passengers are stranded at the airport and in the city, and are being helped by the embassy.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned in the strongest terms the missile and drone attacks on Abha and Riyadh airports in Saudi Arabia. In its statement, the ministry said that targeting essential civilian infrastructure such as airports, and innocent people, violates international norms and is unacceptable under any circumstances. India expressed deep sorrow to the families of the innocent people who lost their lives in the attacks and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The ministry also said that India stands in full solidarity with the Saudi government and its people in this difficult hour.
The attacks are not limited to Riyadh and Abha. The Houthi rebels have also tried to target several other major Saudi cities, including Khamis Mushait, Taif and surrounding areas. There are reports that missiles and explosive drones were seen hovering over these areas and fell near residential neighbourhoods. According to Saudi official sources, three people have died in the recent attacks and several have been seriously injured.
In response to these attacks, the Saudi-led military coalition has carried out heavy air strikes on Houthi military positions and missile launchers in Yemen. The intense fighting from both sides has created war-like tension across the Gulf region.
