Australia Issues Do Not Travel Warning for Saudi Arabia Following Deadly Airport Attacks
The Australian government has raised its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to “do not travel,” warning citizens to postpone all planned trips as a spate of deadly attacks leaves major airports across the kingdom disrupted. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its Smartraveller guidance following a sharp escalation in regional conflict tied to the wider US-Iran war, which has drawn allied nations directly into the fighting.
Capital Airport Stricken Over Twenty Times
Conflict between Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement and a Saudi-led military coalition has intensified through October, with a major offensive targeting civilian infrastructure and energy sites. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport has been struck more than 20 times during the month, resulting in 19 deaths and 364 injuries, according to a Saudi-led military coalition spokesman. A strike on October 10 killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, marking the deadliest attack in the kingdom in over a decade. A Notice to Airmen indicated the capital’s airport would remain closed through Sunday morning, Australian time.
Why is rich Saudi Arabia unable to stop low-tech Houthi attacks? Partly because the Saudi government invested in the "glitter factor" — high-tech but unhelpful weaponry. Partly because the government divided the military out of fear of a coup attempt. https://t.co/kVGETe6BSe
Air Travel Disruptions Force Australians to Seek Exit Routes
Air travel throughout the country faces severe disruptions, featuring regular airspace closures, rolling flight cancellations, and sudden delays. Smartraveller explicitly warned citizens not to leave for any airport until flights have been reconfirmed directly with airlines or travel providers. While advising Australians to avoid all Saudi airports, the government noted that those choosing to depart should minimize time spent in terminals and monitor local updates closely. For travelers wishing to leave the kingdom while commercial options remain, the Australian government suggested considering alternative overland routes via private car, train, or bus toward aviation hubs in the UAE and Qatar, where travel advisories currently sit at Level 2, requiring a high degree of caution due to terrorism threats and regional volatility.
Shelter in Place and Strict Photography Bans
Residents who choose to remain in Saudi Arabia must prepare to shelter in place at short notice and maintain sufficient supplies of food, water, and essential goods. In the event of a strike, Smartraveller advised citizens to seek shelter inside substantial buildings away from windows, noting that falling debris from intercepted missiles and drones presents an ongoing hazard. The Australian government also cautioned that photographing or filming critical infrastructure, military operations, missile launches, or drone activity is strictly prohibited and can lead to criminal prosecution.
Houthi Air Campaign Tests Saudi Defense Capabilities
While the Houthi militia has declared Saudi airports and airspace legitimate targets, the group has carved out exceptions for the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. The widening air campaign has severely tested Saudi air defense capabilities, with media reports including the Wall Street Journal suggesting the country may be running low on interceptor missiles. The renewed hostilities have shattered a ceasefire enforced since March 2022, reigniting a conflict that began when the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen’s civil war in 2015.
More on Saudi Arabia
Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, Founder & Chairman of the Gulf Research Center (GRC), contributed to The National’s @TheNationalNews article, “What Are Saudi Arabia’s Options to Deter the Yemeni Rebels?”, sharing his insights on the Kingdom’s options for addressing Houthi threats and…
In the Middle East, we're seeing the vast difference between having lots of (very expensive) military kit, and actually having military power. https://t.co/svbbmPh3W2
On October 10, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attacked Riyadh’s international airport, writes April Longley Alley. "The deadliest attack on Saudi Arabia in over a decade deepened an escalatory cycle already under way and could draw other countries directly into the fighting,…”