The United States embassy in Saudi Arabia has instructed its personnel that special authorization is mandatory before using several key aviation hubs across the kingdom, following deadly missile strikes targeting Riyadh.
In a security alert issued on Sunday, the US Mission warned that government staff working in Saudi Arabia must obtain permission to travel through King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, alongside airports in Jeddah and Dammam. It advised all American citizens to avoid the Riyadh airport and surrounding areas entirely, while urging travellers to "take extreme caution when using all major airports in Saudi Arabia."
The mission cautioned that passengers should prepare for operational disruptions across the country. "US citizens should be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions," the alert stated, recommending that travellers check their flight status directly with airlines and airports.
The directive followed a Houthi missile strike on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday that killed 12 people and wounded more than 300 others. It was the first time King Fahd International Airport had been targeted since the Iran war erupted on February 28.
Saturday's barrage was part of a string of recent assaults on Saudi aviation infrastructure. Two women were killed when militants struck Abha International Airport in Asir province on Tuesday, while an attack on King Khalid International Airport on Wednesday killed a Sudanese man. On Thursday, strikes on the airport by Houthi militants in Yemen killed three people, including a Saudia pilot.
Under the security measures, US government personnel in Saudi Arabia are also barred from travelling within 20 miles of the border with Yemen due to safety risks. In addition, staff require special authorization to visit the provinces of Jizan, Asir and Najran, as well as the cities of Qatif, Yanbu and Taif.
