Riyadh Schools Go Online Following Airport Strike
Schools across Riyadh have moved to online learning for one week following the deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport that killed 12 people and wounded 309.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Schools across Riyadh have been ordered to move to online learning for the entire week following Saturday's deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport, as Saudi authorities continue to deal with the security and civilian fallout from the strike.
Agence France-Presse reported Sunday that parents and guardians in the Saudi capital received electronic notifications informing them of the temporary change.
"In accordance with Ministry of Education instructions, all schools in Riyadh will conduct classes online this week," the message said.
It is the second time in less than a month that schools in Riyadh have been directed to switch to remote learning.
The decision follows an attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday afternoon that killed 12 people and wounded 309 others, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Four of those killed were Saudi citizens.
The other victims included two Bangladeshi nationals and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Saudi authorities said the injured were receiving treatment at several hospitals, with some in serious condition.
The strike also caused significant material damage at the airport, where authorities are continuing to assess the extent of the destruction.
Airport operations were suspended following the attack, adding to wider disruption in the Saudi capital.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen's Houthis blamed the Iran-backed group for the strike and said it would respond firmly.
The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's attack, although they had claimed earlier attacks on King Khalid International Airport during the previous week.
Those earlier strikes included attacks on Thursday that Saudi authorities said killed three people.
The latest attack has raised security concerns beyond the airport itself, with civilian aviation, schools and other public services affected by the escalating conflict.
Saudi officials have also increased security measures around the airport, while several foreign governments have advised their citizens to avoid the area.
The move to online education is intended to keep students away from unnecessary travel and large gatherings while security conditions remain uncertain.
The decision comes as Riyadh continues to assess both the physical damage from the strike and the broader impact of the escalating confrontation with the Houthis.
For families in the capital, the immediate effect will be a return to remote classrooms for the coming week, as authorities seek to maintain schooling while reducing exposure to possible security risks.