Houthi Missile Attack on Riyadh Airport Kills 12, Injures 309; Saudi Arabia Suspends Flights

RIYADH (Terror Monitor) — A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, has killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Several of the injured remain in critical condition, authorities said, as the kingdom faces an escalating series of attacks attributed to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.

The fatalities include four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshi citizens, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. The Saudi aviation authority confirmed the casualty figures in an update following Saturday’s attack.

Airport operations were temporarily suspended while authorities assessed the damage and addressed security concerns. The incident disrupted air traffic at one of Saudi Arabia’s busiest aviation hubs, prompting flight cancellations and diversions and forcing passengers to seek updated information from their airlines.

The Houthis, who have claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on Saudi airports this week, had not immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday’s strike, according to Reuters. Their involvement in the latest attack therefore remained unconfirmed at the time of reporting.

Third Attack on Riyadh Airport in a Week

Saturday’s strike marked the third reported attack on King Khalid International Airport in a week, amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

The attacks have raised serious concerns about the security of Saudi Arabia’s civilian aviation infrastructure, particularly as the kingdom supports a military campaign by Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthis.

According to Reuters, the latest attack occurred without a prior public warning. Witnesses reported an explosion inside the airport and injured people lying on the ground. More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing towards the facility, while emergency teams worked to evacuate casualties and transport them to hospitals.

A traveller injured in the incident told Reuters that they saw an object moving across the sky before part of the ceiling near a departure gate collapsed.

Saudi authorities temporarily halted airport operations as emergency services responded and officials assessed the extent of the damage. Flight-tracking data showed that flights scheduled to arrive in Riyadh were diverted or cancelled following the incident.

Earlier Houthi Attacks Killed Saudi Pilot

The latest attack followed two strikes on Riyadh’s airport on Thursday, October 8, which killed three Saudi citizens, including a pilot employed by the national carrier, Saudia.

The airline confirmed the death of Captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, expressing condolences following the incident. Saudi aviation authorities said the earlier attacks targeted airport facilities and an aircraft belonging to Saudia.

The aircraft was reportedly on the ground when it was hit, and no passengers were aboard at the time. The attacks caused material damage and injuries among people of different nationalities.

On Thursday, the Houthi military spokesperson claimed that the group had launched two cruise missiles towards King Khalid International Airport. The group also announced attacks targeting other Saudi locations, including Najran and Khamis Mushait.

Saudi authorities subsequently reported that airport operations had resumed after the earlier strikes. However, Saturday’s attack forced another suspension, further disrupting air travel.

The latest toll of 12 fatalities and 309 injured relates to Saturday’s incident, according to the updated civil aviation statement. It should be distinguished from casualties reported in the earlier attacks.

Houthis Threaten Saudi Aviation

The Iran-backed Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, has intensified its campaign against Saudi targets following renewed fighting in Yemen and the collapse of a truce between the parties.

The group has warned airlines against operating in Saudi airspace, declaring it a military operations zone and threatening aircraft using the area, with exceptions stated for flights over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

The Houthis have presented their attacks as retaliation for Saudi military operations and Riyadh’s support for forces fighting the group in Yemen. They have also sought to pressure Saudi Arabia by targeting transport infrastructure and other strategic facilities.

The group’s recent attacks have reportedly extended beyond Riyadh to airports in Abha, Jizan and Najran in southwestern Saudi Arabia. However, claims concerning individual strikes and their outcomes have not all been independently verified.

Although the Houthis claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on Riyadh airport, they had not publicly accepted responsibility for Saturday’s deadly strike at the time of the latest reports.

Flights Cancelled and International Travellers Warned

The attack triggered widespread disruption to air travel. Several airlines cancelled or suspended services to Riyadh, while flights approaching the Saudi capital were diverted.

Kuwait Airways announced cancellations because of the airport’s closure amid the security situation. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also cancelled multiple services between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some disruptions extending into the following days.

The US, British, Irish and Canadian diplomatic missions issued security advisories urging their citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport and surrounding areas. The warnings cited the attacks and ongoing military activity.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry also advised Saudi citizens whose travel plans had been disrupted to contact the kingdom’s diplomatic missions abroad for assistance.

The disruption comes as Riyadh prepares to host major international gatherings, including the World Petroleum Council Energy Congress, scheduled to begin on Sunday, and other high-profile investment events later in the month. Organisers said the events would proceed as planned despite the security concerns.

Trump Says US Is Considering Response

US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering whether to join Saudi airstrikes against the Houthis following the latest attack.

Asked by reporters outside the White House whether the United States might participate in the Saudi campaign, Trump said: “We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.”

His remarks signalled the possibility of greater US involvement in the conflict, which has become increasingly intertwined with the wider confrontation involving Iran and its regional allies.

The attacks have exposed growing security challenges for Saudi Arabia as it attempts to protect major airports and other critical infrastructure while supporting military operations in Yemen.

Wider Regional and Economic Implications

Saudi Arabia’s aviation network is a major regional transport hub, connecting the kingdom with destinations across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and North America. Repeated attacks on its airports risk disrupting international travel and increasing concerns about civilian safety.

The violence also threatens to deepen instability in Yemen, where fighting has intensified along several fronts. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces are seeking to regain territory from the Houthis, while the group has tightened its grip on areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, remains strategically important to international shipping and energy transport. Escalation in Yemen could therefore have consequences extending beyond the immediate conflict.

For now, Saudi authorities are dealing with the aftermath of Saturday’s attack, providing assistance to the injured and assessing the damage at King Khalid International Airport. The confirmed toll of 12 dead and 309 injured underscores the severity of the incident, while the absence of an immediate Houthi claim means responsibility for the latest strike remains officially unconfirmed.

Further details about the weapon used, the precise circumstances of the attack and the timing of the airport’s full reopening had not been confirmed in the latest reports.