The UK Foreign Office has issued a new travel warning for British citizens following a Houthi militia attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which killed 12 people and injured 309—the deadliest such incident in Saudi Arabia in over a decade. The attack forced Saudi civil aviation authorities to suspend operations and divert all flights, triggering the UK’s advisory alongside the US.
The warning comes after Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Türkiye (the R4 Group) condemned the strikes as a “blatant violation of international law,” demanding an immediate end to Houthi hostilities. The diplomatic group accused the militia of targeting civilian infrastructure, escalating regional tensions further. The UK’s updated guidance reflects concerns over ongoing instability, including potential disruptions to air travel and security risks for British nationals in the region.
The attack follows a pattern of Houthi strikes on Saudi targets, including energy facilities and commercial ports, which have already disrupted global shipping routes. The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has separately reported drone and projectile attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and Oman’s Sohar anchorage, further complicating maritime safety for UK-linked vessels.
Key UK impact: British travellers and businesses with operations in Saudi Arabia now face heightened risks, including flight cancellations and potential supply chain disruptions. The Foreign Office advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the kingdom and monitor local developments closely.