Strike on Riyadh Airport Leaves 12 Dead, 309 Injured

At least 12 individuals, including one American, died while 309 others sustained injuries during a strike on Saturday at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, as reported by Saudi officials. The victims comprised four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. Several of the injured are in critical condition and are being treated at different hospitals.

The Saudi administration is confronting a series of attacks amidst the Iranian conflict. President Trump stated he is assessing whether the U.S. should participate in Saudi strikes against Tehran-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen.

“We may. We’re gonna look at it,” said President Trump when questioned about a possible U.S. involvement. “We just found out about the recent attack. So we’ll make a decision quickly.”

A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department denounced the Houthi assaults on civilian infrastructure, including airports. The Houthis have yet to claim responsibility for this specific strike. However, they admitted to attacks earlier in the week on King Khalid, which resulted in three Saudi casualties, including a pilot.

Saturday’s attack involved a missile hitting a structure housing terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights, as disclosed by a regional official. This series of attacks coincided with the recent offensive by a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis. In return, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of attacking Sanaa International Airport in Yemen earlier that day.

Airport Operations Suspended

Riyadh airport operations are currently on hold. Saudi civil aviation authorities announced the suspension will continue through midnight. Entrances are blocked, a heavy police presence is observed, and the airport’s lights have been dimmed. Flights are being rerouted, according to Flightradar24. Nations such as the U.S., Britain, Germany, Australia, and Canada have warned their citizens against traveling through the airport.

The attacks have disturbed global markets and the region, yet the Saudi energy ministry remains committed to hosting an international energy conference in Riyadh on Sunday. The ongoing conflict in Yemen has intensified, with the Saudi coalition providing air support to Yemeni government forces.

Flight Disruptions Intensify

The Houthis have issued warnings to global airlines regarding operating within Saudi airspace, now considered part of their military operations. In the past 24 hours, FlightAware recorded the cancellation of 291 flights at Riyadh airport. Prior to the latest incident, airlines such as Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group, and Pakistan International Airlines had suspended certain flights to and from Saudi Arabia.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has extended its warnings on Saudi airspace due to the Houthi capability to hit deeper targets within Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh. The attacks, as well as interception efforts, raise the risk of misidentifying civil aircraft, they warned.

Recent Houthi attacks on Thursday reportedly damaged three planes at Riyadh airport, as stated by two regional officials. Although not authorized to speak to the media, they revealed that a Saudi national carrier’s aircraft was damaged while on the ground, sparing any passengers from harm.