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(20261008-diplomats-school-pupils-take-shelter-in-saudi-capital-as-yemen-s-houthis-step-up-attacks.html#)    (https://www.france24.com/en/) Home   (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-caret-down)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/) Middle East     Diplomats take shelter in Saudi capital as Yemen's Houthis target Riyadh airport  Middle East   Foreign diplomats and international schools in the Saudi capital took safety measures on Thursday as loud blasts rattled the city and Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed missile attacks against its airport. In a further blow to Riyadh, Turkey ruled out sending troops to confront the Iran-backed militia, despite a defence pact with Saudi Arabia.   Issued on: 08/10/2026 - 11:20  Modified: 08/10/2026 - 19:05   (Reading time) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-clock)    4 min Reading time   Share (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-share)      By:  (https://www.france24.com/en/author/france-24/) (FRANCE 24) FRANCE 24       To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-check)    Manage my choices (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-edit)      One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again   (Vehicles travel along a road as black smoke billows from a fire at an oil facility in an industrial area in southern Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.)  Cover image:            Black smoke billows from a fire at an oil facility in an industrial area in southern Riyadh, on October 3, 2026.         © Stringer, AP  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        01:26      Diplomats stationed in the Saudi capital were sheltering in place and international schools took safety measures on Thursday, diplomats and residents told AFP, after (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261008-saudi-arabia-strikes-deadly-houthi-attacks-airports) explosions echoed across the city . The explosions heard in Riyadh came as the Houthis in (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/yemen/) Yemen , which borders (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/saudi-arabia/) Saudi Arabia , claimed their latest attacks on the kingdom, including the capital's international airport. The Iran-backed militia said they launched two missiles at Riyadh's airport, as well as one at an airport in Najran and another at an airbase in Khamis Mushait. Saudi forces earlier said they intercepted two missiles fired at the capital. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261008-saudi-arabia-strikes-deadly-houthi-attacks-airports) Explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh after Houthis' deadly attacks on airports  The Houthis also called on staff at oil facilities in Saudi Arabia to leave their jobs "so as not to endanger their lives". The rebel militia have launched a wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia since they began a major offensive in Yemen against the internationally-recognised, Saudi-backed government there. Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces have struggled to contain the Houthis' advance, despite a counter-offensive aimed at recapturing territory including the area around a waterway that is crucial to global energy flows. In a further blow to Riyadh, (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/turkey/) Turkey 's foreign minister on Thursday ruled out sending troops to confront the Houthis, stressing that a defence pact with Saudi Arabia was "not an offensive agreement". Evacuating staff In Riyadh, home to a large number of non-Saudis, diplomats were instructed to shelter in place in their respective embassies, diplomats told AFP. There was no official statement addressing the morning's incident or text alerts warning residents, which were sent out during earlier periods of the conflict. A campaign by the interior ministry has repeatedly warned residents against sharing unauthorised information, images or footage of missiles, drones and their impacts, warning that violators could face legal consequences. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-check)    Manage my choices (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-edit)      One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again   ()  Cover image:                    © France 24  (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-play)        01:25   (Saudi schools adopt remote learning amid mounting Gulf tensions)     Several residents told AFP, meanwhile, that international schools were taking precautions, with at least one facility sending children into a basement for safety. "My daughter called me," one parent told AFP on condition of anonymity, saying she was "completely distraught". The measures came after repeated blasts were heard in the city, one of the loudest disturbances there since the start of the Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Numerous flights at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport were delayed or cancelled, according to information posted on signage at the facility. Two people working in Riyadh's business hub, the King Abdullah Financial District, told AFP that some companies were evacuating staff from the area. 200,000 people displaced The Yemen war predates the Iran war, but it had come to a near-standstill until last month the Houthis launched a lightning offensive against government forces. They seized large swathes of territory including the area around the Bab al-Mandab strait, a key waterway for global shipping and, crucially, Saudi oil exports. The fighting in Yemen has in recent weeks become the most active front of the wider regional conflict, which for months has seen violence repeatedly shift focus across the Middle East. In Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries, it is ordinary civilians paying the price, with more than 200,000 people displaced since July, according to UN data. Read more (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261004-yemen-leader-announces-counter-offensive-as-houthis-cut-off-supply-route-besieged-city-taiz) Yemen's government declares counter-offensive as Houthis cut vital route to besieged city  After declaring a counter-offensive against the Houthis, Yemen's government claimed to have pushed the fighters out of strategic areas on the Red Sea and the port city of Mocha. But the Houthis insist they are holding their territory, and military sources from both sides contacted by AFP have not reported any major changes on the ground. (The renewed fighting has displaced 200,000 people according to the UN)  The renewed fighting has displaced 200,000 people in Yemen, according to the UN.        © Essa Ahmed, AFP    Claims by the warring parties have been impossible to independently verify, with the situation moving fast and access for journalists difficult. In Saudi Arabia, the latest blasts came a day after the Houthis claimed attacks on two international airports, while repeating a warning to airlines to avoid Saudi airspace. Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said the airports in Riyadh and Abha were "subjected to attacks" on Tuesday and Wednesday. An Egyptian and an Algerian national were killed at Abha airport, while a Sudanese national was killed at Riyadh airport, the agency said. The attacks wounded 36 people, it added. In a subsequent statement, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis blamed them for the strikes and vowed that they "will not go unpunished". Humanitarian crisis On Wednesday in Yemen, clashes left at least 62 combatants dead, including 37 Houthis, military sources from both camps told AFP. Saba also reported that a Houthi missile wounded five civilians in Taiz, a city held by government forces. "We went out into the street to check on the wounded and saw young civilians who had been hit," resident Al-Fateh al-Eisaei told AFP. "The Houthi shell landed in the middle of the street, right in an area crowded with civilians." The humanitarian crisis caused by the war has left most of the nation's population dependent on aid. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)     Read next   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261008-saudi-arabia-strikes-deadly-houthi-attacks-airports) (Large plume of black smoke rises from the fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 19, 2026)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261008-saudi-arabia-strikes-deadly-houthi-attacks-airports) (Explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh after Houthis' deadly attacks on airports) Explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh after Houthis' deadly attacks on airports    Middle East    (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261005-yemen-military-announces-broad-range-of-strikes-against-houthis-in-bid-to-retake-lost-territory) (This image was taken from an undated video released by the Ansar Allah Media Office, the media arm of Yemen's Houthi rebels, on September 22, 2026)   (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261005-yemen-military-announces-broad-range-of-strikes-against-houthis-in-bid-to-retake-lost-territory) (Houthis claim attacks on Riyadh airport as Saudi-led forces strike Yemen) Houthis claim attacks on Riyadh airport as Saudi-led forces strike Yemen    Middle East   Includes a video  6 min         Today's top stories   (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261008-live-students-fourth-round-protests-education-funding-france) (Live: Police fire tear gas at student protesters in Paris ahead of afternoon marches nationwide) Live: Police fire tear gas at student protesters in Paris ahead of afternoon marches nationwide  Live  France     (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261007-france-summons-iranian-ambassador-over-disinformation-on-student-protests) (France summons Iranian ambassador over 'disinformation' on student protests) France summons Iranian ambassador over 'disinformation' on student protests   France     (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261007-dnc-sues-trump-administration-taxpayer-funded-tv-ads) (Democratic party sues Trump administration over taxpayer-funded TV 'propaganda') Democratic party sues Trump administration over taxpayer-funded TV 'propaganda'   Americas     (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261007-thousands-protest-flavio-bolsonaro-far-right-brazil) (Thousands protest Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, fearing far-right return) Thousands protest Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, fearing far-right return   Americas     (https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20261008-saudi-arabia-strikes-deadly-houthi-attacks-airports) (Explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh after Houthis' deadly attacks on airports) Explosions heard in Saudi capital Riyadh after Houthis' deadly attacks on airports   Middle East        Advertising (Report this ad) (/build/images/svg/sprite.68b43361c11f23b39049016b32e6ae31.svg#icon-report-ad)           Most read   1 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261006-french-interior-ministry-estimates-250-000-join-student-protests-organisers-claim-450-000) French interior ministry estimates 250,000 join student protests; organisers claim 450,000   As it happened  France       2 (https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20261006-massive-ukrainian-drone-attack-targets-moscow-russian-officials-say) Ukraine hits Moscow with one of its largest drone attacks in two years    Europe       3 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261006-we-re-fed-up-paris-students-rise-up-in-a-movement-that-shows-no-sign-of-slowing) 'We're fed up': Paris students rise up in a movement that shows no sign of slowing   On the ground  France    Includes a video  3 min     4 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261007-live-france-suspends-stun-grenade-use-school-protests-after-15-year-old-loses-hand) French student unions demand talks with Lecornu as PM seeks to ease tensions   As it happened  France       5 (https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20261005-how-lulas-successes-in-brazil-may-have-paved-the-way-for-his-presidential-defeat) How Lula’s successes in Brazil may have paved the way for his presidential defeat   Explainer  Americas       6 (https://www.france24.com/en/france/20261006-france-macron-observes-test-of-new-nuclear-capable-missile-without-warhead) Macron observes test of new nuclear-capable missile without warhead    France         Keywords for this article   (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/saudi-arabia/) (Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/yemen/) (Yemen) Yemen  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/houthi-rebels/) (Houthi rebels) Houthi rebels  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/turkey/) (Turkey) Turkey       Happening now (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/) France  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/french-student-protests/) French student protests  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/education/) education  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/protest/) protest  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/features/) Features    International (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/usa/) USA  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/united-kingdom/) United Kingdom  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/canada/) Canada  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/australia/) Australia  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/germany/) Germany  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/india/) India  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/netherlands/) Netherlands  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/south-africa/) South Africa  (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/italy/) Italy      About France 24 (https://www.france24.com/en/about-us) Who are we?  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