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The US Embassy in Riyadh said on Monday that American citizens have been detained in Saudi Arabia for photographing the recent attacks on the country's airports, CBS News reported from an AFP dispatch.
"American citizens have been detained for taking photos of recent events," the embassy said. It added that Saudi authorities have warned that filming, publishing or sharing information about missile and drone interceptions and their impact sites exposes people to legal liability.
The Saudi Transport General Authority issued that warning on Sunday, Gulf News reported. The notice did not set out fines, sentences or specific legal provisions.
The detentions follow a Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Saudi aviation authorities said that attack killed 12 people and injured 309, and one of the dead was a US national. We covered the strike and a second round of attacks on Riyadh and Dammam over the weekend.
The embassy also urged "extreme caution" at all major Saudi airports on Monday. Earlier, in an alert reported by Gulf News, the US Mission told citizens to avoid the Riyadh airport and surrounding areas and warned of flight cancellations and airspace closures. US government employees need special authorization to use the airport.
Saudi Arabia extended the Riyadh airport closure on Monday and opened an investigation into why its air defenses failed to intercept the attacks. Saudi-led forces said they intercepted a missile aimed at Riyadh the same day, and residents reported hearing explosions.
The Houthis have warned airlines against flying to Saudi airports, with the exception of those serving Mecca and Medina. Delta postponed its planned Atlanta to Riyadh flights from October 2026 to March 2027, CBS News reported.
President Trump said on 10 October that the US may join Saudi operations against the Houthis. As of Monday, no US strikes had been reported.
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