The strike forced an airport evacuation and halted flights as tensions escalated between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement.
An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309 on Saturday, prompting an emergency evacuation and the suspension of all airport operations, Saudi aviation authorities said.
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The victims included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis and citizens of the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan, according to the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
The attack disrupted air travel to and from the Saudi capital. Kuwait Airways canceled all flights to and from Riyadh, while airport authorities urged passengers to check with their airlines for updates before heading to the terminal.
Saturday’s strike was the third attack on the airport in a single week. An earlier assault on Thursday, October 8, killed three people, damaged several facilities and struck an aircraft operated by Saudi national carrier Saudia.
Yemen’s Ansar Allah Houthis have issued a new warning for airlines, workers and travellers to avoid Saudi airports after an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300.
Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry reports. pic.twitter.com/aQsTQZF13E
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 11, 2026
Yemen’s Houthi movement had not immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack. However, Yemen’s armed forces based in Sanaa had claimed responsibility for the earlier strikes on Thursday.
The attacks came amid recent military operations by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. According to the press release, coalition forces struck Sanaa International Airport hours before Saturday’s attack on Riyadh.
In official statements, the Houthi movement warned international airlines against operating in Saudi airspace, except in the areas around Mecca and Medina. It also urged workers at Saudi oil facilities to stay away from potential military targets.
The attack drew condemnation from Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the strike, which killed an American citizen, and reaffirmed the US administration’s support for the Saudi government.
President Donald Trump described the attack as “terrible.” Asked whether the United States would intervene or respond militarily to Houthi attacks, Trump indicated that his administration would announce its position soon.
The attack added to a week of strikes targeting Riyadh’s airport as military exchanges involving the Saudi-led coalition and Yemen’s Houthi movement continued.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.