Houthi Missile Attack on Riyadh Airport Kills 12 and Wounds Hundreds

Oct 11, 6:52 AM2 min readCovered by 8 outlets

Drafted by AI from the sources below, fact-checked by the Ajako Taja Editorial Team · How we use AI

AI Summary

A Houthi missile strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport has left 12 dead and over 300 injured, prompting Saudi Arabia to vow a 'decisive response.'

At least 12 people were killed and over 300 injured on Saturday when Yemeni Houthi rebels launched a missile strike against King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that the deceased include four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. Deutsche Welle reported that at least 309 others were injured, with a Saudi official telling the Associated Press that many casualties occurred after a missile struck a passenger terminal. Operations at the airport were suspended following the attack.

The Saudi-led military coalition described the strike as a war crime and vowed to respond decisively. According to coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki, a separate projectile landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. In Riyadh, the Ministry of Education has ordered all schools to switch to remote learning for one week following the incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attack as not acceptable and stated he would speak with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the death of an American citizen, while Al Jazeera noted that the U.S. is evaluating whether to join Saudi Arabia's counter-attacks against the Houthis. The U.S. embassy has also restricted staff travel, requiring special authorization to use airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

The New York Times reported that the airport has faced repeated attacks from the militia this week, resulting in diverted flights. International condemnation followed from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who both emphasized that targeting civilian infrastructure violates international law and threatens regional stability.

Background

The strike comes amid intensified fighting between Houthi forces and government troops in Yemen. This conflict has exacerbated a hunger emergency, with aid agencies reporting that hundreds of displaced children are suffering from severe malnutrition due to the renewed violence.