12 People Killed in Riyadh Airport Attack

The Saudi civil aviation authority said the dead included:

  • Four Saudis
  • Two Bangladeshi nationals
  • One US citizen
  • One Jordanian
  • One Palestinian
  • One Syrian
  • One Sudanese
  • One Egyptian

Authorities said some of the injured were in critical condition.

An eyewitness said a domestic terminal gate was hit and people were injured. The witness described passengers running from the area after the attack.

Saudi Coalition Blames Houthis

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki blamed the Houthis for the attack.

He said the strike hit a passenger terminal and caused deaths and injuries among civilian passengers and airport employees.

Al-Maliki described the attack as a “full-fledged war crime.”

The Saudi-led military coalition has vowed to respond.

Flights Suspended at Riyadh Airport

Operations at King Khalid International Airport have been suspended.

The civil aviation authority said officials were assessing the damage.

Several Gulf airlines cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, citing the security situation. Aviation tracking information also showed flights being cancelled or diverted.

Western governments have warned their citizens to stay away from the airport until the area is considered secure.

More Saudi Airports Targeted

The Riyadh attack came after a series of reported attacks on Saudi airports.

Saudi authorities said three Saudis, including a pilot, were killed in two attacks on an airport the previous day.

Another three people were reportedly killed in Houthi attacks on two Saudi airports on October 6 and 7.

On Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition also said a projectile landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia.

US Confirms American Citizen Killed

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and confirmed that an American citizen was among those killed.

The United States has continued to closely monitor the escalation between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthis.

Why Are the Houthis Attacking Saudi Arabia?

The Houthis say they are targeting Saudi Arabia because of its support for Yemen's internationally recognised government.

The conflict intensified after the Houthis captured strategically important areas along Yemen's Red Sea coast.

The group has also announced what it calls a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia and has carried out missile and drone attacks against airports, oil facilities and tankers.

The Houthis say their attacks are retaliation for what they describe as a long-running Saudi blockade and Saudi air strikes in Yemen.

Yemen Conflict Escalates Again

Saudi Arabia formed a coalition in 2015 with other Arab countries to support Yemen's internationally recognised government and prevent the Houthis from taking control of the country.

A temporary ceasefire was reached in 2022 after years of fighting and air strikes.

The conflict had already caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and contributed to a major humanitarian crisis.

The informal truce began to deteriorate in July, leading to renewed attacks and rising tensions.

What Happens Next?

Saudi Arabia's promised response will be closely watched as the conflict continues to escalate.

The immediate focus will be on restoring security at Riyadh's airport, assessing the damage and treating those injured.

Further Houthi attacks could also lead to additional Saudi military action, potentially increasing the wider conflict around Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea.

Key Points

  • At least 12 people were killed and 309 injured in the Riyadh airport attack.
  • Saudi authorities blamed the Houthis.
  • King Khalid International Airport suspended operations.
  • Several flights were cancelled or diverted.
  • An American citizen was among those killed.
  • Saudi Arabia's military coalition called the attack a war crime.
  • Another projectile reportedly fell near an airport in Dammam.
  • The Houthis say their attacks are linked to Saudi Arabia's role in Yemen's war.
  • Saudi Arabia has vowed to respond.

Source: Saudi civil aviation authorities, Saudi-led coalition officials, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and information provided in the supplied report.