At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured in a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, according to Saudi civil aviation officials. The attack marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Iran-backed Houthi militia and the Saudi-led coalition.
The fatalities included four Saudi nationals, one American citizen, two Bangladeshis, and individuals from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan, with several wounded in critical condition. Authorities temporarily suspended all flights to and from the airport following the strike, leading multiple airlines—including Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways—to cancel or divert services for several days. Flight tracking services showed that all Riyadh-bound flights were either rerouted or grounded.
The missile impacted the airport's passenger terminal, causing structural damage, injuries, and chaos as passengers fled. Eyewitnesses reported seeing debris and travelers injured on the ground, while ambulances and emergency responders rushed to the scene. Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority activated a mass call-up of doctors in response to the emergency.
Although no immediate official claim of responsibility was released on Saturday, senior Houthi officials previously acknowledged carrying out attacks on Saudi airports, including recent strikes on Riyadh and Abha. A Houthi official described the Saturday attack as retaliation for Saudi airstrikes on Yemen, which have targeted civilian infrastructure, arguing that civilian facilities in Yemen should be protected from bombings as is expected elsewhere. The Houthis declared a "blockade for blockade" policy in response to what they describe as a Saudi blockade of Yemeni airspace and maritime routes.
The Saudi-led coalition has been conducting a renewed and intensified bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen since earlier this month, following a breakdown in a fragile truce reached in 2022. The coalition aims to regain areas seized by the Houthis, who recently captured the entire Yemeni Red Sea coastline, including strategic shipping lanes near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This escalation follows the broader regional tensions intensified by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Saudi authorities and the kingdom’s allies, including Qatar, condemned the attacks, affirming that they represent violations of Saudi sovereignty and pose broader threats to regional security and civilian safety. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated solidarity with Saudi Arabia and emphasized that the kingdom’s security is integral to Gulf Cooperation Council collective security.
The United States and various Western embassies in Riyadh issued advisories urging their citizens to avoid the airport area amid ongoing military activity. Speaking outside the White House, President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering possible involvement in the conflict but offered no immediate plans, indicating that a decision would be made swiftly.
The attack undermines Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's efforts to develop Riyadh into a major international travel and business hub, coming just before a series of high-profile energy and investment conferences scheduled in the city. Despite security concerns, organizers of these events affirmed they would proceed as planned.
The conflict in Yemen, which began officially in 2015 when the Houthis took control of the capital Sana’a, has involved severe humanitarian consequences, with tens of thousands of deaths attributed to violence, starvation, and disease. The current flare-up reflects the intensified military engagements and proxy dynamics linked to the broader Iran-Saudi tensions playing out across the region.