Riyadh schools shift to remote learning after deadly airport attacks

Schools in Riyadh have shifted to remote learning following a series of attacks on King Khalid International Airport, with in-person classes suspended from Oct 11 to Oct 14.

The decision followed a deadly missile strike on Saturday, Oct 10, and another attack on the airport the following day. An email sent to parents, seen by AFP, said the move was made on instructions from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education. The schools will remain online for the entire week.

Airport attacks leave casualties

The airport attacks have caused significant casualties. As many as 13 people were killed and more than 300 injured in Saturday’s strike, which was claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement.

On Oct 11, another projectile struck the airport’s Terminal 4, killing one person and injuring 11 others, Saudi authorities said. The airport had remained closed following the attack.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen blamed the group for the strikes. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack and said the group had also targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and facilities belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco.

Schools move online amid security concerns

The shift to remote learning is intended to keep students away from school premises during the period of heightened security concerns. It is the second time in less than a month that schools in Riyadh had been ordered to switch to distance learning.

The airport attacks have also disrupted aviation activity and prompted warnings for travellers. Britain’s embassy advised its citizens against all but essential travel to several Saudi cities and airports, while US aviation authorities urged airlines to exercise caution when operating flights to or over the kingdom.