Houthi attack on Saudi airport leaves 12 dead and more than 300 injured
Photo: Yemen’s Houthi rebels (Getty Images)
Riyadh International Airport was attacked on October 10 in what became Saudi Arabia’s deadliest incident in more than a decade. Twelve people were killed and another 309 were injured, Reuters reports.
According to Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority, those killed included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi citizens, and one person each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. The total number of injured reached 309.
This was the third attack on King Khalid International Airport in a week. The two previous strikes killed four people and damaged a passenger aircraft that was on the runway.
Following Saturday’s attack, all flights from Riyadh were diverted and the airport suspended operations. The airport serves Saudi Arabia’s capital, which has a population of around eight million.
Witnesses reported an explosion and injured people inside the terminal. More than ten ambulances arrived at the airport. According to one passenger, he saw something in the sky, after which part of the ceiling collapsed near the boarding gate.
MASS CASUALTIES IN RIYADH
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) October 11, 2026
The damage from the attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport is extensive.
Saudi authorities now report 12 people killed and 309 injured after the airport was struck.
The Saudi-led coalition blames the Iran-backed Houthis for the attack.… pic.twitter.com/wHsSkZYBMP
The injured were transported to hospitals by ambulance and helicopter. Some were in critical condition.
The Houthis did not claim responsibility for the specific attack. However, a representative of the group said on Twitter (X) that Riyadh airport was allegedly under blockade and urged international airlines to avoid Saudi Arabia’s airspace. The airspace over Mecca and Medina was exempted.
The US Embassy in Riyadh urged American citizens to stay away from the airport and surrounding areas.
US could join strikes against the Houthis
US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis. According to him, a decision could be made soon.
"We may. We're gonna look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We'll move very quickly," Trump told reporters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks on the airport, saying they demonstrated contempt for the lives of innocent civilians. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack and stressed that strikes on civilians and infrastructure violate international law.
The Saudi-led military coalition vowed to respond to the attack on the airport.
On October 5, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan agreed to activate a collective deterrence mechanism amid attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The countries said they were ready to rapidly deploy coordinated military forces and assets in Saudi Arabia. The agreement provides for enhanced combat readiness and coordination among the three states.
