Saudi Arabia postpones sports events, shifts investment conference after Houthi attacks
FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation have postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026, which had been scheduled for Jeddah from October 16 to 25, according to Reuters.
The announcement on Oct. 15 came after several days of missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities attributed to the Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen. The New York Times described the strikes as a severe escalation of cross-border attacks, in reporting published Oct. 13. New York Times
One person was killed and nearly a dozen were injured in an attack on Riyadh's international airport reported on Oct. 11, according to Reuters. The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Houthi group for a missile attack on the main international airport in Riyadh, Al Jazeera reported.
Yemen's Houthis then renewed a warning over Saudi airports after the deadly Riyadh attack. Saudi Arabia faced new missile and drone fire on Oct. 12 after major attacks on airports, Reuters reported. The group had been attacking Saudi airports and oil facilities in the week before Oct. 12 as part of a rapidly escalating conflict.
Saudi officials responded defiantly on Monday, Oct. 12, after devastating attacks attributed to the Iranian-backed Houthi militia of Yemen, according to The New York Times.
The violence has disrupted major events planned in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia postponed the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament after the Houthi attacks. Organizers have also changed plans for the 10th edition of the Future Investment Initiative conference, scheduled for Oct. 26 to 29 in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia plans a hybrid format for the conference to maintain its push to attract global investment despite the escalating war, Reuters reported.
