Media Report: Prince MBS Moves Between Palaces Equipped with Bunkers
RIYADH — Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has reportedly been moving from one palace to another, staying in heavily guarded residences equipped with bunkers amid an escalation in Houthi militant missile attacks. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing several royal officials familiar with the matter, reported this, according to Ynet on Monday (12 October 2026).
The 41-year-old prince has increased his personal security as Riyadh has come under Houthi bombardment, including two attacks on the international airport that reportedly killed a total of 14 people. MBS was last seen in public on Tuesday last week, when he donated blood as part of a national campaign.
On Saturday (10 October 2026), at least one Houthi missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing 12 people and injuring hundreds. Two airport terminals were badly damaged, with the roof of one terminal collapsing.
Among those killed was a 28-year-old Egyptian flight attendant, who was reportedly fatally injured after losing an arm. Video verified by Storyful showed passengers fleeing the terminal, whose floor was covered in blood.
The Houthi attacks continued on Sunday (11 October 2026), when a projectile reportedly struck the airport, starting a fire in Terminal 4. Two people were killed and dozens injured in the second Houthi attack.
The escalation has turned Riyadh into a new conflict zone. Residents have been forced to seek shelter as several explosions were heard across the capital. Workers in the financial district, students at several international schools and diplomats were instructed to evacuate buildings or find a safe place.
The intensifying conflict with the Houthis comes as MBS faces domestic pressure over his economic transformation ambitions. In recent years, he has sought to turn Saudi Arabia into a global destination for tourism, investment and technology, committing substantial funds to future infrastructure, including NEOM and major new projects in Riyadh.
Those ambitions are now threatened by deteriorating security. Houthi attacks have targeted airports, oil refineries and the East-West oil pipeline, a vital route for Saudi oil exports via the Red Sea that avoids the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis have also threatened shipping in the Red Sea, undermining a vital lifeline for the Saudi economy.