Houthi attack on Riyadh delays umrah, Saudi flights canceled

The Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has begun to disrupt umrah travel from Indonesia, with departures by pilgrims from Sulawesi Selatan delayed and a number of flights to Saudi Arabia canceled. The Himpunan Penyelenggara Umrah dan Haji (HIMPUH) said the cancellations affected routes from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia and the reverse. DPP HIMPUH Chairman M Firman Taufik said Emirates has suspended flights to Saudi Arabia until Oct. 12. The situation has complicated travel agencies that had already scheduled departures, because there is still no clarity on refunds or rebooking. On the other hand, HIMPUH's umrah operator network in Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah has not reported direct disruptions, although the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh has urged Indonesian citizens to heighten vigilance.