An attack on King Khalid International Airport killed a Pakistani resident and injured eleven others as officials gathered for the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the International Energy Forum.
The escalation follows a series of strikes targeting airports and petroleum facilities across the country, prompting aviation disruptions and international condemnation. In Riyadh, the General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that King Khalid International Airport and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam faced renewed assaults. An attack on the capital’s airport resulted in the death of a Pakistani resident and injuries to eleven others, who were immediately transferred for medical treatment.
Speaking at the 17th Ministerial Meeting of the International Energy Forum, Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman addressed the security situation directly. He described the events of recent weeks as severe and argued that the kingdom’s response must match that gravity, according to coverage from regional outlets detailing the official remarks. The gathering also featured the 25th World Petroleum Congress in Riyadh under the theme Paths Toward an Energy Future for All, bringing together 70 ministers, roughly 300 chief executives of major global energy companies, international organization representatives, experts, and policymakers.
Energy Markets and Pipeline Resilience in Riyadh
Despite infrastructure attacks that briefly halted petroleum flows, Saudi authorities maintain that export commitments remain secure. Saudi Aramco informed European oil refineries that they will receive their full requested volumes of crude oil in November. The normalization follows repair work on the vital East-West pipeline, which connects production fields in the Eastern Province to export terminals at Yanbu on the Red Sea.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that the East-West pipeline embodies the kingdom's foresight to enhance the resilience of the energy system, as it provides an alternative route to transport supplies to global markets via Yanbu on the Red Sea.
While down from a monthly peak of 4.13 million barrels per day in September, the figures demonstrate continued transport via Red Sea routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
Delegates Gather for Riyadh Energy Talks
The forum in Riyadh drew international delegates, including energy ministers from Italy and Nigeria, alongside industry executives. Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy’s Minister of Environment and Energy Security, and Heineken Lokpobiri, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, participated alongside International Energy Forum Secretary General Jasem Al-Shirawi. While major figures such as BP CEO Meg O’Neal and executives from other energy giants faced travel disruptions following the airport closures, attending ministers expressed full solidarity with the kingdom and its population against infrastructure attacks.
Iran expressed deep concern over the escalation and offered to facilitate dialogue between Riyadh and Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement. Simultaneously, diplomatic channels within the region remained active; Saudi Arabia signed energy cooperation memoranda with neighboring states, including a joint framework with Qatar to examine pipeline corridors.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman stated that like a phoenix, we rise from the ashes every time, over and over, and no one can break our spirit.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation extended operational suspensions at King Khalid International Airport without naming a reopening time, as technical teams inspect facilities for structural safety. Major international carriers continue to monitor the situation, with Delta Air Lines maintaining scheduled direct flights from Atlanta later in the month.