Saudi Arabia is facing questions over its decision to stop issuing public warnings of imminent attacks before a series of deadly strikes hit Riyadh's international airport, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 300.

The Saudi government has not explained why public alerts were absent before four attacks on the airport over the past week. The warnings had previously informed residents about security threats linked to the Kingdom's conflict with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

Four Western and Arab officials in the region, along with political analysts, told Reuters that the absence of warnings raised concerns about Saudi Arabia's vulnerability to attacks and its ability to protect residents and visitors. They also suggested the decision reflected an effort to preserve a sense of normality despite the security situation.

Sultan Alamer, a US-based Saudi academic and senior resident fellow at the Middle East Policy Council, said the government appeared to be balancing military action with efforts to reassure the public and international stakeholders.

Saudi Civil Defence, which operates under the Interior Ministry and manages emergency alerts, did not respond to emailed questions about the lack of warnings. The government media office also did not respond to requests for comment.

On Monday, Civil Defence issued its first public threat alerts since September 29, warning of potential dangers in Riyadh and cities in southern Saudi Arabia. Reuters said it could not establish whether the renewed alerts were directly linked to the airport attacks.

Early Warning System Falls Silent

Gulf countries have faced Iranian missile and drone attacks since the US-Iran war began in February, but their approaches to public warnings have differed.

Qatar's Interior Ministry has issued mobile phone alerts before nearly every attack, including incidents in July when residents were instructed to remain indoors and stay away from windows. Bahrain and Kuwait have also repeatedly sounded sirens urging people to seek shelter.

Saudi Arabia introduced a national early warning system in May, distributing threat alerts through mobile phones and social media. However, the system stopped issuing public threat warnings despite a rise in Houthi attacks before last week's airport strikes.

According to posts on the Civil Defence account on X, the last alert before the recent attacks was issued on September 29 for the southern province of Najran.

Authorities continued issuing warnings about dangerous weather, including heavy rain and flooding, during the period without military threat alerts. Civil Defence also reminded residents not to circulate images, rumours or information about missile interceptions and impact locations. The restrictions are covered by government regulations introduced in March.

Reuters could not establish whether anyone had been prosecuted for sharing such information. Saudi authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

Two officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that representatives of an allied Western government had asked Saudi authorities why public alerts had stopped before the airport attacks. According to the officials, the response was that the alerts caused disruption and that many residents had complained about being woken during the night.

Saudi officials did not respond to requests for comment on that account.

Michael Ratney, a former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said the government was attempting to respond to security threats without causing widespread disruption. However, he argued that the absence of warnings had increased public anxiety rather than reduced it.

Analysts Question Saudi Arabia's Air Defence Capacity

Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the government, said the country's vast territory made it difficult to protect every strategic location against aerial attacks.

He pointed to the scale of Saudi Arabia's infrastructure, including airports, pipelines and oil facilities, and said available missile defence systems and interceptors could not provide comprehensive protection across the entire country at once.

Shihabi argued that Saudi Arabia faced a continuing need for additional air defence capabilities.

Despite the attacks, Riyadh hosted an international energy conference on Monday, although several major oil executives withdrew from the event.

Speaking at the World Petroleum Council Energy Congress, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, a brother of the Saudi crown prince, defended the Kingdom's ability to continue its economic plans while acknowledging the ongoing risks.

He thanked international delegates for travelling to Riyadh and said they understood that the country was safe, while also cautioning that the gathering did not mean the danger had passed.

The minister reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to its long-term vision and development objectives.

Western Embassies Issue Internal Security Alerts

Although Saudi Arabia had not issued public military threat alerts during much of the period, Riyadh reportedly came under attack approximately a dozen times, two Western officials told Reuters.

Western embassies in the Kingdom continued sending internal warnings about potential missile and drone threats to their staff, according to three people familiar with the matter and alerts reviewed by Reuters.

One source said the warnings drew on intelligence from the United States and other Western governments, alongside information provided by Saudi authorities.

Embassy staff received internal alerts around the time of two earlier airport strikes, the sources said. However, they said no internal warning had been received before Saturday's attack, the deadliest of the recent incidents. Reuters could not determine why the warning was absent.

Saudi state television released footage of Saturday's strike on Sunday. The images showed passengers waiting inside the airport terminal, with travellers queuing to board a flight and others sitting in chairs while looking at their mobile phones.

The footage then showed a bright orange flash from an explosion, illustrating the attack's impact on a civilian airport environment.

The absence of public warnings before the strikes has intensified questions about Saudi Arabia's approach to communicating security threats, protecting civilians and maintaining public confidence during the continuing conflict.

Source: Reuters News

India and Pakistan have maintained mutual restrictions on each other’s airspace since April 2025, a situation that continues to affect commercial aviation across the region. While international airlines are still permitted to use the airspace of both countries, carriers from India and Pakistan remain barred from crossing into each other’s territory.

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) confirmed on Wednesday that its airspace will remain closed to all Indian-registered aircraft, including those operated, owned, or leased by Indian airlines, as well as military flights, until early April 24. The restriction was first imposed on April 24, 2025, following Indian missile strikes linked to Operation Sindhoor.

Subsequently, Pakistan extended the closure to international traffic on May 7, 2025, before reopening its skies a day later for non-Indian airlines. Since then, both nations have continued issuing monthly Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) to reaffirm the ongoing restrictions.

The impact of these measures has been uneven. Indian carriers, particularly those operating from northern hubs such as New Delhi, have been forced to reroute flights to avoid Pakistani airspace. These detours have significantly increased operational costs and flight durations.

The situation has been further complicated by regional instability, including conflict in Iran, which has pushed Indian airlines to adopt longer routes over Africa for Europe-bound flights. In many cases, this has extended travel times by up to two hours.

Long-haul services have also been affected. For example, flights from New Delhi to New York operated by Air India now often include a stopover in Europe, stretching total journey times to approximately 22 hours. By comparison, US-based carriers that can traverse Pakistani airspace complete similar routes in around 16 hours.

Air India has estimated that the restrictions are costing the airline roughly $600 million annually. A company representative recently noted at an international aviation forum in Mumbai that competitors have increasingly captured market share as a result of these operational challenges.

Passenger trends reflect this shift. While international airlines operating direct services between Bengaluru and London have reported growing demand, Air India has not experienced a similar increase, largely due to the longer and less efficient routes it must operate.

Source: Khaleej Times

In a move to bolster regional security, the United Kingdom has confirmed the deployment of four additional Typhoon jets from the Royal Air Force to Qatar. This strategic reinforcement is part of ongoing efforts to support defensive operations in the region, further solidifying the UK’s commitment to regional stability.

The newly dispatched jets will supplement the existing aircraft stationed at the UK-Qatar Joint Typhoon Squadron. These jets were first deployed in January to enhance security measures, protect British nationals, and safeguard the country's interests in the region.

This latest deployment signals the UK's unwavering support for its allies and its determination to take all necessary steps to ensure the protection of its citizens and national assets. The UK government has reiterated that it will continue to work closely with international partners to maintain peace and security in the region.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, has firmly rejected Iranian claims regarding recent missile strikes, asserting that the attacks were directed at civilian and residential areas within Qatar, contradicting Iran's explanation that they were aimed at American interests.

During a phone call with Dr. Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the missile strikes, which impacted areas such as the vicinity of Hamad International Airport and key industrial zones, including facilities linked to liquefied natural gas production, violated Qatar’s sovereignty. He stressed that the evidence on the ground clearly disproved Iran’s assertions.

The Prime Minister described the missile attacks as a "flagrant violation" of both Qatar's sovereignty and international law. He further pointed out that these strikes were part of a broader escalation involving drones and aircraft, with the latter being intercepted by Qatar's armed forces as they entered the country’s airspace.

Sheikh Mohammed also condemned Iran's approach as "escalatory" and accused Tehran of attempting to draw neighboring countries into a conflict that does not concern them. He called for an immediate cessation of attacks on states that have sought to remain neutral, urging all parties to focus on the broader interests of regional peace and stability.

While reaffirming Qatar's commitment to dialogue and diplomacy, Sheikh Mohammed made it clear that the country would take necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security. He pointed to Qatar’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, stressing that such acts of aggression would not go unanswered.

A significant disruption to air travel occurred on Sunday, as over 3,400 flights were canceled across seven major airports in the Middle East. According to flight tracker Flightradar24, the cancellations affected key transportation hubs in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain, which experienced widespread airspace closures due to escalating regional tensions.

Airports including Hamad International Airport in Doha, Dubai International Airport, and Bahrain International Airport saw massive operational shutdowns, halting both domestic and international flights. The closures are linked to the ongoing geopolitical developments and airspace restrictions in the region.

This large-scale disruption has left thousands of passengers stranded, with many facing delays and extended waiting times as airlines and authorities work to manage the situation. Travelers are urged to check with airlines for updates on flight statuses, as the closures continue to impact flight schedules.

As the situation evolves, aviation authorities in the affected countries are monitoring the situation closely and providing updates as new information becomes available. Passengers are advised to stay informed through airline websites or customer service hotlines.

This comes as part of ongoing regional developments, which have led to airspace restrictions across several Middle Eastern countries.

Saudi air defense systems successfully intercepted Iranian missile strikes targeting both Riyadh’s international airport and the Prince Sultan Airbase, which is home to U.S. military personnel.

An unnamed source informed AFP that the missiles were intercepted on Sunday afternoon. "Saudi air defenses effectively neutralized the Iranian missiles near Riyadh airport and the Prince Sultan Airbase," the source stated, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.

Fortunately, the attack caused no disruption to air traffic and did not result in any casualties or damage. An observer near the airport reported witnessing and hearing the air defense intercept the missiles mid-air, highlighting the capability of the defense systems in place.

This missile interception comes amid a series of similar attacks across the Gulf, with airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Manama also targeted. Abu Dhabi authorities confirmed that one person died in the incident at their airport.

Saudi Arabia, which hosts U.S. military personnel and bases, remains a key ally in the region, although larger U.S. military installations are found in Bahrain and Qatar. The interception serves as a reminder of the growing security risks in the region, with rising tensions between Iran and its neighboring countries. Authorities are closely monitoring developments as the situation evolves.