At least 12 people have been killed and over 300 injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to local authorities. The fatalities include four Saudis and individuals from Bangladesh, the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. The Saudi civil aviation authority confirmed the casualties and announced the suspension of airport operations.
In response to the attack, which the Saudi-led military coalition labeled a “war crime,” officials blamed Yemen’s Houthi movement. The Houthis have not yet commented on this latest incident but previously claimed responsibility for separate strikes on the airport that occurred just days prior, resulting in three deaths and damage to an aircraft.
Escalating Violence and International Reactions
This incident marks the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia since May 2015, amid escalating hostilities between the Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthis, who control significant portions of Yemen. The coalition reported that a projectile also landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on the same day.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaos at the airport, with reports of injuries occurring in front of bystanders. “Everyone was running,” one witness recounted, as ambulances rushed to the scene. The Saudi-led coalition’s spokesman, Major General Turki al-Maliki, confirmed that the attack targeted a passenger terminal, resulting in civilian casualties.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, confirming that an American citizen was among the deceased. President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. might consider military action in response, stating, “We may. We’re going to look at it.” Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep shock, calling the attacks a violation of international law that must cease immediately.
Impact on Air Travel and Regional Security
In the wake of the attack, several Gulf airlines canceled flights to and from Riyadh, citing security concerns. The UK Foreign Office advised British nationals to avoid the airport until it is deemed secure. Aviation tracker Flightradar indicated that all flights to Riyadh have either been diverted or canceled.
The Houthis have stated that their attacks are a response to Saudi Arabia’s military support for the Yemeni government. The conflict has intensified following the Houthis’ capture of key coastal areas, including the port of Mokha, which is critical for global shipping routes. The Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 to counter the Houthi advance and restore the internationally recognized government in Yemen.
Despite a temporary ceasefire brokered in 2022, hostilities have resumed, with the Houthis launching missile and drone strikes against Saudi targets, including airports and oil facilities. This ongoing conflict has contributed to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost and millions displaced.
As the situation develops, the international community continues to monitor the escalating violence and its implications for regional stability.
According to BBC News, the attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from various nations, including Egypt, Palestine, and Qatar.
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