Saudi authorities say 12 killed in latest Riyadh airport attack

The Big Picture

Saudi authorities said an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured more than 300 on Saturday, escalating a week of attacks on airports in the kingdom amid renewed fighting in Yemen.

The Saudi-led military coalition blamed Yemen's Houthi rebels for the latest attack. The Houthis had not immediately claimed responsibility, according to reports by the Associated Press and Al Jazeera. The group had claimed earlier attacks on the Riyadh airport that killed three Saudi nationals, including a Saudia pilot.

The violence has disrupted air travel in Saudi Arabia and raised the prospect of expanded United States involvement. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington was evaluating whether to join Saudi strikes against the Houthis.

What Happened

Saudi civil aviation authorities said the Saturday attack killed four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. More than 300 people were injured, with some in critical condition, authorities said.

A regional official told the Associated Press that a missile struck a complex housing domestic terminals 3 and 4. Saudi authorities initially said airport operations had been suspended while damage and casualties were assessed. Flights were diverted or canceled, and several foreign embassies advised their citizens to avoid the airport.

The Saudi-led coalition also said that a projectile fell near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in eastern Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.

The Riyadh attack followed two attacks on King Khalid International Airport on Thursday. Saudi authorities said three Saudi nationals were killed and other people were injured, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Saudia said one of those killed was Capt. Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, a pilot for the national carrier.

Saudi authorities said the first Thursday attack hit airport facilities and the second struck a Saudia aircraft. The airline said the damaged aircraft was on the ground and that no passengers were aboard. Airport operations later returned to normal.

Background

The Houthis have said their attacks on Saudi Arabia are retaliation for Saudi support for Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is fighting the Iran-aligned group. The Houthis control much of northwestern Yemen.

Before Thursday's attack, Houthi-claimed attacks on October 6 and 7 killed three people at Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport, according to Saudi authorities. Two people were killed and 28 wounded at Abha, while one person was killed in Riyadh.

The latest assaults came after a Saudi-led coalition launched a major military offensive against the Houthis and as fighting intensified along Yemen's Red Sea coast. The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, which they described as a theater for military operations.

Why It Matters

The attacks have caused widening disruption to commercial aviation. Lufthansa and Air India were among carriers that suspended Riyadh service after the earlier strikes, while flight cancellations affected travel across Saudi Arabia.

Trump said the United States could join Saudi military action against the Houthis. “We may. We’re going to look at it,” he said. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an American citizen was killed in Saturday's attack, according to Al Jazeera.

The United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, called strikes on civilian airports a “grave escalation,” warning that they threaten regional security and further complicate efforts to pursue peace in Yemen.

What Happens Next

Saudi authorities were assessing damage at King Khalid International Airport and treating the injured at several hospitals. The Saudi-led coalition has vowed a response, while the Houthis had not publicly claimed the Saturday attack as of early Sunday.

Whether the United States will take military action remains unresolved. Trump's comments signal that the airport attacks could increase pressure on Saudi allies to provide more direct support as the conflict in Yemen broadens.