Saudi Arabia cancels flagship investor conference after Houthi missile and drone strikes
Saudi Arabia has canceled its Future Investment Initiative conference, widely known as "Davos in the Desert," following a series of Houthi missile and drone strikes on the kingdom. Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, struck multiple times this month and shut down on October 10, partially reopened on Wednesday to limited domestic traffic. The Houthis have acknowledged attacking the airport, stating without evidence that Saudi Arabia used the facility to supply military equipment to forces fighting the rebels.
Two sources · Thin corroboration
Saudi Arabia canceled the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh after sustained Houthi missile and drone strikes disrupted operations across the capital, including repeated hits on King Khalid International Airport. The airport, which closed on October 10, resumed limited domestic operations on Wednesday, with Saudi carriers Saudia and FlyNas operating flights according to FlightAware tracking data. Major international carriers including Lufthansa and Air France have canceled flights through mid-November, the Associated Press reported.
Britain announced military support for Saudi Arabia as the conference cancellation was confirmed, NPR reported. French President Emmanuel Macron also arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for an unannounced visit, with his office stating he was there to show solidarity and to "continue ongoing efforts to secure oil and gas supplies" from the region, according to the Associated Press.
The broader military situation continued to escalate across the region. Saudi coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki said five Houthi drones fired toward Saudi Arabia were intercepted and destroyed over the holy city of Medina on Wednesday. The Houthis separately said a ballistic missile struck a military camp adjacent to Yemen's Aden airport, which a Yemeni transportation ministry official said caused no tarmac damage and only a temporary suspension of operations, the Associated Press reported.