Houthi Attack on Saudi Airports Kills 21, Several Countries Ban Citizens From Traveling
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- Militan Houthi menyerang Bandara Abha dan Bandara King Khalid Riyadh akhir pekan lalu, menewaskan 21 orang dan memicu kecaman keras dari Riyadh.
- Australia, Selandia Baru, Korea Selatan, dan Inggris mengeluarkan imbauan agar warganya menghindari perjalanan ke Arab Saudi, terutama ke bandara dan wilayah perbatasan Yaman.
- Eskalasi ini mengancam stabilitas penerbangan regional dan memaksa negara-negara mengevaluasi ulang kebijakan perjalanan ke Timur Tengah.
A Houthi militia attack on two international airports in Saudi Arabia last weekend killed 21 people and triggered a wave of travel advisories from several countries. Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were targeted, marking an escalation of the Yemen conflict that has spilled into the heart of Saudi civilian infrastructure.
Riyadh strongly condemned the incident and vowed to take firm action. However, the diplomatic fallout was immediate: several foreign governments moved quickly to protect their citizens by issuing travel warnings. Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United Kingdom were among the most vocal.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs urged its citizens to avoid King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and reconsider travel to other Saudi airports. Meanwhile, New Zealand's Foreign Ministry urged its citizens not to travel to Najran, Jazan, and Asir for any reason, and to avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia as a whole.
South Korea went further by recommending that its citizens in Saudi Arabia leave the country unless for urgent matters. South Korea also advised canceling planned visits to Saudi Arabia. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office urged its citizens to avoid Jeddah and Dammam, as well as all airports other than Madinah International Airport, unless for essential reasons.
"We are asking Australians to reconsider travel to Saudi airports other than King Khalid," the Australian Foreign Ministry said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
The attack is not only a Saudi security issue but also a blow to the regional aviation and tourism sector. King Khalid Airport is one of the busiest hubs in the Middle East, serving international flights from around the world. Disruption there could scramble flight schedules and raise travel insurance costs.
For Indonesia, this advisory is a serious concern. Saudi Arabia is the main destination for umrah and hajj pilgrims, with hundreds of thousands of Indonesians traveling there every year. Although there has been no official advisory from the Indonesian government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to monitor developments and provide guidance for prospective pilgrims. National carriers such as Garuda Indonesia and Lion Air, which serve routes to Jeddah and Madinah, must also be on alert for potential route changes or delays.
The Indonesian government usually issues travel advisories through the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh and the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah. As of the publication of this news, there has been no official statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the attack. However, the public is urged to continue monitoring information from official sources before planning travel to Saudi Arabia.
Going forward, the escalation of the Yemen-Saudi conflict will be a test for Middle East security stability. If similar attacks recur, other countries are likely to tighten travel warnings, which could affect the global aviation industry. The question is whether Saudi Arabia will be able to suppress the Houthis, or whether this conflict will draw more parties into the vortex.
