A reported Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed at least 12 people and injured 309 others, according to figures cited in the report. The attack was described as the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade, amid escalating tensions linked to the Yemen conflict and wider regional hostilities.
According to Saudi civil aviation authorities, those killed included citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. Hospitals across Riyadh received injured passengers and airport staff, with some reportedly in critical condition. Medical teams were called in to respond to the emergency.
Airport operations were temporarily suspended while authorities assessed the damage and checked the safety of the facilities. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported widespread disruption, including hundreds of cancellations and delays. Some flights bound for Riyadh were diverted to other airports, mainly Jeddah, while several foreign embassies advised their citizens to avoid the airport.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen blamed the Houthis for the strike and described it as a serious violation involving a civilian facility. A diplomatic source cited in the report attributed the attack to a missile. The Houthis had previously claimed strikes targeting the airport, although the report noted that they did not announce a new attack on Saturday.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the reported attack and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Washington might consider joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis and indicated that he would speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The incident comes as fighting in Yemen intensifies following the collapse of a UN-brokered truce. Saudi-led government forces and Houthi fighters have continued to clash in strategically important areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key route for international shipping. The report cautioned that claims made by the warring parties could not be independently verified amid rapidly changing conditions on the ground.
Houthi Strike on Riyadh Airport Kills 12, Hundreds Injured as Saudi Coalition Vows Response
