An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday injured several people and halted airport operations, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority confirmed. The incident marks the latest escalation in missile strikes originating from Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, following two prior attacks on the airport last week that resulted in four fatalities.
An eyewitness at the airport described witnessing an explosion followed by multiple injured individuals inside the terminal. Emergency response was swift, with more than a dozen ambulances arriving at the scene. The airport remains closed as authorities assess damage and security risks.
No group has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack. However, the assault aligns with a pattern of increased missile launches from Yemen’s Ansar Allah amid ongoing hostilities in the region.
In response to the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House that the United States was considering its next steps, including the possibility of joining Saudi military actions against Ansar Allah fighters. “We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh issued a statement acknowledging awareness of the attacks and strongly advising American citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas. Similarly, the United Kingdom and Irish embassies reported being aware of a “serious incident” at the airport, while the Canadian embassy cited “ongoing military activity” as the reason for disruptions to airport operations.
Kuwait Airways announced the cancellation of flights to and from Riyadh due to the airport’s closure amid the heightened security concerns.
On the diplomatic front, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, and Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, held a telephone conversation on Saturday to discuss the regional situation. Sayyid Badr reaffirmed Oman’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and actions that jeopardize the Kingdom’s security and civilian safety.
Both ministers emphasized the importance of continued coordination and dialogue aimed at reducing tensions and fostering a political resolution to ongoing conflicts. They highlighted efforts to support de-escalation mechanisms as essential to preserving security and stability throughout the region.