Golf-Asian Tour postpone Saudi International after Riyadh attacks

Smoke and flames rise from King Khalid Airport, after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they attacked the airport, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 8, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Social Media/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. NEWS USE ONLY. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE. Verification lines: The location was verified as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from the airport buildings, light poles, and painted tarmac markings which matched satellite imagery. Coordinates: 24.952651844496998, 46.70783371105999 Smoke was seen rising from a stationary aircraft at Riyadh airport on Thursday, according to a witness and three people briefed on the matter. There was no immediate official confirmation from Saudi authorities on the reported incident. No versions of the video were found posted online before October 8.

Oct 16 (Reuters) - The ⁠Asian Tour postponed its season-ending Saudi International ⁠indefinitely on Friday in the aftermath ‌of a deadly attack on the international airport in Riyadh, where the tournament was scheduled to take place next ​month.

Yemen's Houthi movement has been ⁠firing ballistic missiles ⁠and drones at Saudi airports, ports and oil ⁠installations, ‌including last weekend's attack on the capital that killed at least 12 ⁠people and wounded more than 300.

"The decision ​to postpone ‌was taken following an assessment of the ⁠organisational and ​logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament and ensuring the event is delivered to a standard ⁠befitting its international stature," an ​Asian Tour statement said.

The $5 million flagship event, which is sponsored by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), ⁠was scheduled to take place at Riyadh Golf Club from November 18 to 21.

"The PIF Saudi International is one of the most ​important events on the Asian ⁠Tour calendar and we look forward to seeing ​our players compete in ‌Riyadh in the future," Asian ​Tour Commissioner Cho Minn Thant said.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)