A series of ballistic missile and projectile attacks launched by Yemen's Houthi movement targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300 travelers and airport personnel in one of the deadliest strikes against Saudi aviation infrastructure in recent years.
The main strike struck a complex housing Terminals 3 and 4 during peak morning hours. Footage broadcast by state media and confirmed by aviation officials showed heavy damage to passenger processing concourses, with parts of the ceiling collapsing and fire breaking out across waiting lounges.
Casualties and International Repercussions
Saudi authorities and medical emergency teams confirmed that the dead included Saudi nationals, airline personnel, two Bangladeshi citizens, a U.S. citizen, and travelers from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, and India. Over 300 individuals were treated for injuries ranging from blast trauma and shrapnel wounds to smoke inhalation and flying glass lacerations.
In a follow-up attack, a secondary projectile impacted Terminal 4, resulting in additional casualties, including a Pakistani national, and prompting authorities to enact widespread emergency procedures.
Flight Suspensions and Regional Alert
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) temporarily suspended commercial operations at King Khalid International Airport, diverting inbound flights to regional hubs including Jeddah and Dammam. Security advisories were promptly issued across Gulf airspace as regional defense batteries raised interceptor alert levels following earlier missile and drone interceptions.
Houthi military spokespersons claimed responsibility for the operation, describing it as retaliation for ongoing regional military escalation. Saudi defense officials condemned the strikes as deliberate attacks against civilian transit corridors and indicated that retaliatory strikes against launch positions in Yemen were already underway.
International airlines have begun reviewing routes across the Arabian Peninsula, while embassies in Riyadh have cautioned citizens to remain vigilant as investigation teams continue sanitizing the damaged terminals.