Saudi Arabia extends Riyadh airport closure to Oct. 17 as Houthi attacks escalate

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport until 9 p.m. GMT on Oct. 17, after repeated Houthi missile and drone attacks killed 14 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi authorities.

The Saudi-led coalition said its air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Al-Kharj province and a drone in the Eastern Province, and that Saudi forces carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen. Late Monday the Houthis claimed another ballistic-missile strike on the airport and a drone attack on an airbase in Khamis Mushait, renewing their warning to airlines against using Saudi airspace. Houthi claims of specific strikes are single-sourced.

India's embassy said one of its citizens died from injuries sustained in Saturday's attack. Cancellations across Saudi airports reached 46.4 per cent, according to figures cited by LiveMint.

Brent crude settled up 1.84 per cent at $106.65 a barrel on Monday as the geopolitical risk premium held; the S&P 500 Energy sector rose 1.5 per cent to a record close. Goldman Sachs raised its December Brent forecast to $90 from $85, warning renewed escalation could push prices higher — a single-sourced analyst forecast.

For Canadians, the stakes are travel disruption through the Gulf, pressure on pump and diesel prices, and direct ties for Pakistani- and Indian-Canadian diaspora communities.