At least 12 people have been killed and 309 others injured following an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to vow a decisive response against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The coalition blamed the Iran-backed Houthi group for the attack, which struck the airport’s domestic terminal, describing the incident as a “full-fledged war crime.”
A diplomatic source attributed the strike to a missile, while Saudi authorities said some of the injured were in serious condition.
The attack occurred amid a renewed wave of Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia following the collapse of a truce in the group’s long-running conflict with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Riyadh.
The escalating violence has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, with United States President Donald Trump indicating that Washington could join military operations against the Houthis.
According to a statement by Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority, the 12 fatalities included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
A passenger who witnessed the attack told AFP that the strike hit the domestic terminal while travellers were waiting to board their flights.
“I was on gate 403,” the witness said. “I saw 401 hit, I saw injured in front of my eyes. Everyone was running.”
Airport operations were suspended following the incident, while authorities began assessing the extent of the damage.
The attack also prompted health officials to activate an emergency mobilisation of doctors to respond to the large number of casualties.
A medical source described the situation as a “serious emergency situation,” while two doctors told AFP that several pilgrims travelling to Mecca were among those wounded.
Authorities also ordered schools across Riyadh to switch to remote learning for the second time in a month.
Parents in the Saudi capital received emails citing an education ministry directive that “all schools in Riyadh will switch to distance learning for the entire week”.
Reacting to the attack, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Major General Turki al-Malki, condemned the incident and accused the Houthis of deliberately targeting civilians.
“The cowardly terrorist attack by the Terrorist Houthi Militia… which resulted in deaths and injuries among civilian passengers and airport staff, constitutes a full-fledged war crime,” al-Malki said in a statement posted on X.
The coalition had earlier announced that it intercepted missiles targeting Saudi Arabia and destroyed launch platforms used in the attacks.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for a series of attacks targeting the airport on Thursday, which reportedly killed three people and damaged an aircraft. However, the group had not immediately claimed responsibility for the latest strike on Saturday.
The latest incident is the deadliest attack on Saudi soil since May 2015, when a suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State militant group killed 21 worshippers at a Shia mosque in the eastern Qatif governorate.
The attack has raised concerns about possible direct American involvement in the conflict.
Asked on Saturday whether he had changed his position on joining Saudi military operations against the Houthis, Trump said, “We may.”
The US president also said he would speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, describing the attack as “not acceptable”.
US media reports have indicated that previous Saudi requests for American military assistance against the Houthis had been rejected.
Meanwhile, the US, Canadian, German and Spanish embassies in Saudi Arabia advised their citizens to avoid the airport following the attack.
A senior Western diplomat told AFP that several embassies were also prohibiting their staff from using the airport “over the next week”.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned what he described as the “heinous attack” and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security under the defence pact between both countries.
The airport attack comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen, where a four-year United Nations-brokered truce collapsed in July, reigniting hostilities between the Houthis and government forces.
Saudi Arabia has led an international military coalition supporting Yemen’s government since 2015, drawing the kingdom deeper into the conflict in its impoverished neighbour.
Military sources told AFP that Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces were advancing against the Houthis in areas around the Bab al-Mandab Strait that the group captured last month.
The Yemeni government announced a counter-offensive last week aimed at retaking all territories under Houthi control.
The Houthis confirmed that government forces had launched attacks in the Bab al-Mandab area but claimed to have repelled the offensive.
The strategic waterway is a key chokepoint for international shipping, particularly oil and cargo shipments passing through the Red Sea.
The renewed hostilities have heightened concerns about disruptions to regional security, global energy supplies and international trade.
However, claims by the warring parties have been difficult to verify independently due to rapidly changing conditions on the ground and limited access for journalists.
The attack also comes ahead of Saudi Arabia’s high-profile convention and entertainment season, which features major events in Riyadh, including an investment conference that typically attracts foreign leaders and prominent business figures.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
