ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has temporarily suspended its flight operations to Riyadh amid escalating security concerns in Saudi Arabia, according to reports.
The suspension follows a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed at least 12 people and injured 309 others, Saudi authorities said. <Cite refs={[“turn539524news11″,”turn539524news41”]}/>
Meanwhile, other flight operations to Saudi Arabia continue, although some airlines have cancelled services because of the security situation.
Airlines Cancel Flights to Saudi Arabia
A Fly Jinnah flight operating on the Lahore–Karachi–Riyadh route (LHR–KHI–RUH) was cancelled. Flynas also cancelled its Karachi–Madinah and Karachi–Riyadh flights due to technical reasons, according to the supplied report.
However, flights to Madinah and Jeddah operated by other airlines from Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Islamabad continue to operate as scheduled.
The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has established special facilitation counters at major airports across the country. These counters will help passengers affected by cancellations and other travel disruptions.
Passengers are advised to confirm their flight status with their respective airlines before travelling to the airport.
Deadly Attack Hits Riyadh Airport
The attack on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday killed at least 12 people and wounded 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.
The victims included four Saudi nationals and two Bangladeshis. One person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt also died.
The strike was the third attack on King Khalid International Airport that week. The two earlier attacks killed four people and severely damaged a Saudi commercial aircraft parked on the tarmac.
Hospitals received large numbers of injured people by ambulance and helicopter. Some victims were reported to be in critical condition.
The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the latest attack, although a Saudi-led military coalition blamed the Iran-backed group and vowed to respond.
US Considers Response as Conflict Escalates
US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering whether to join Saudi military operations against the Houthis.
“We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly,” Trump told reporters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, saying they showed a “blatant disregard for innocent civilian life”.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the strike. He reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and must stop immediately.
Yemen Conflict Intensifies After Ceasefire Breakdown
The latest attacks come as fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthis intensifies.
Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government have reported hundreds of strikes against targets in Houthi-controlled territory. The Houthis, in turn, have claimed that these attacks killed civilians, including women and children. Reuters said it could not independently verify those claims.
Saudi Arabia entered Yemen’s war in 2015 at the head of an Arab coalition. Its aim was to drive the Houthis out of the capital, Sanaa.
The conflict later reached a prolonged stalemate, with fighting and famine contributing to hundreds of thousands of deaths in Yemen.
A ceasefire agreed between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in 2022 broke down this summer. The situation deteriorated further after a rapid Houthi advance captured the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Saudi-backed government forces.
