Riyadh Airport Strike: 12 Killed and Extensive Damage Reported

On Saturday, a missile strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport resulted in the deaths of at least 12 individuals and injured 309 others, including one American, according to Saudi officials. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed fatalities among nationals from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. Numerous injured individuals are receiving medical care, with several in critical condition.

Recently, Saudi Arabia has witnessed heightened assaults amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. As the aviation authority confirmed, President Trump is considering whether the U.S. should participate in Saudi responses against Tehran-backed Houthi rebels situated in Yemen. Following the latest attack, President Trump stated, “We may. We’re gonna look at it. We just found out about the recent attack [on the airport]. So we’ll make a decision, we move very quickly.”

The U.S. State Department condemned the “Houthi terrorist attacks against civilian infrastructure and airports.” Although the Houthis haven’t claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack, they did take credit for previous strikes earlier in the week on the same airport, which resulted in the deaths of three Saudis, including a pilot.

A missile impacted terminals 3 and 4, dedicated to domestic flights, as reported by a regional official. The increased frequency of attacks, targeting Saudi airports, military sites, and oil facilities, follows a significant Saudi-led coalition offensive against the Houthis.

As a result, operations at Riyadh airport are suspended. Saudi civil aviation authorities announced the suspension, which remains effective through midnight. The airport area is heavily guarded, with blocked entrances and reduced lighting. Flights have been redirected, as per Flightradar24. Countries like the U.S., Britain, Germany, Australia, and Canada advised citizens to avoid the airport.

These attacks have disrupted global oil markets, yet the Saudi energy ministry proceeded with promoting an upcoming international energy conference in Riyadh. In Yemen, the Houthi gains along the Red Sea have intensified the conflict with Saudi-backed forces, who receive air support from the Saudi-led coalition.

The Houthis have designated Saudi airspace for their military operations and issued warnings to airlines liaising with the kingdom. Over the past 24 hours, FlightAware reports 291 flight cancellations at Riyadh’s airport. Airlines like Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group, and Pakistan International Airlines have paused flights to and from Saudi Arabia.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency enhanced its warnings about the Houthi threat, reflecting their capabilities to strike deep within Saudi territory, including Riyadh, and their focus on aviation infrastructure. The agency cautioned about the risks of misidentifying civil aircraft due to ongoing missile and drone activities.

Earlier, Houthi attacks damaged three planes at Riyadh airport last Thursday. Affected was the Saudi national carrier, with one aircraft sustaining damage on the tarmac, though it carried no passengers. Regional officials shared this information on the condition of anonymity, as they were unauthorized to publicly discuss the media.