The Riyadh airport explosions on Thursday disrupted air travel in the Saudi capital and added to a day of heavy developments across the Middle East. A witness reported several blasts in the city, including a large one at King Khalid International Airport that halted outgoing flights. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility, saying a ballistic missile caused damage.

Blasts at Riyadh Airport

The witness, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to talk to the media, said fire and ambulance crews were deployed and smoke was visible. Outgoing flights were stopped, and passengers in the crowded terminal were told to evacuate, leaving checked-in luggage behind.

The Houthis offered no evidence for their claim, and Saudi authorities had no immediate comment. It is not yet clear how many flights were affected or whether there were casualties.

Britain Downgrades Its Jerusalem Consulate

Britain said it reached an agreement with Israel to downgrade its consulate in east Jerusalem to a mission, to be known as the UK Mission. Israel had announced last month that it would close the consulate in response to Britain’s ban on trade with settlements in the West Bank.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said 20 British diplomats will leave Israel and that the building will keep operating with seven diplomats on limited activity. He said Israel would no longer turn its cheek to diplomatic attacks. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband denied the building will close, saying the remaining seven diplomats will keep working with Palestinians, though he gave no details.

Israel Honours FlyDubai Passengers

Israeli President Isaac Herzog gave the Presidential Award for Civilian Heroism to six passengers who helped save lives on the September 30 FlyDubai flight, where officials say the co-pilot attacked the captain and tried to crash the plane. The wounded captain opened the cockpit door, letting passengers and crew take control and land safely.

The recipients were Zvika Manes, Tali Manes, Yaniv Hayoun, Dr Shota Musayev, Asaf Rajuan and Or Pardilov. Zvika Manes said his daughters’ cries pushed him to act without thinking.

Fighting in Lebanon and Gaza

• An Israeli officer was killed and three soldiers lightly injured when their vehicle overturned in the Litani area of southern Lebanon. The military is reviewing the incident. Israeli troops remain in the south despite US-mediated talks on their withdrawal and Hezbollah’s disarmament, which the group refuses.
• Israeli strikes after warnings in Gaza killed a woman and a child in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood and wounded 10 others, according to local hospitals. Another strike wounded six. In southern Gaza, the military said it hit several weapons storage sites, with no casualties reported.

New US Sanctions on Iran’s Oil Network

The US Treasury sanctioned 17 tankers it says Iran uses to move billions of dollars of oil and gas to foreign markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the aim is to starve the Tehran government of money used to wage war. Washington alleges the vessels form a shadow network funding the Revolutionary Guard and its proxies.

What to Watch Next

• Saudi confirmation of damage or casualties at the airport
• Whether flights at Riyadh resume normally
• Further Houthi strikes on Saudi targets
• How the dispute over the UK Mission is resolved

The Bottom Line

A strike on one of the region’s busiest airports, if confirmed, would mark a serious escalation for Saudi Arabia. Alongside diplomatic friction over Jerusalem and fresh sanctions on Iran, the day showed how many fronts remain open at once.