At least 12 people have been killed and 309 others injured following an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Saudi-led coalition warning of a decisive response against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the casualty figures on Sunday, 11 October 2026, following the attack on the airport’s passenger terminal a day earlier. Several of the injured were reportedly in critical condition.
Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government, condemned the attack, describing it as a serious violation of international humanitarian law. He said the strike targeted a civilian passenger terminal, resulting in deaths and injuries among members of the public.
The incident forced authorities to suspend airport operations temporarily while emergency teams assessed the damage and carried out safety checks. Some flights were cancelled or diverted as officials worked to protect passengers and airport personnel.
The United States Embassy in Saudi Arabia acknowledged the security situation at the airport and advised American citizens to avoid the facility and nearby areas.
Security concerns also increased after reports emerged that a projectile had landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, in eastern Saudi Arabia.
TRUMP CONSIDERS POSSIBLE US MILITARY INVOLVEMENT
United States President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington is considering whether to participate in Saudi Arabia’s military operations against the Houthis following the deadly airport attack.
Describing the incident as terrible, Trump said his administration would assess the situation before making a decision, adding that any decision would be made quickly.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that an American citizen was among those killed. He condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, extending condolences to the victims and their families.
The United Nations also condemned the incident. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed shock over the loss of lives and called for an immediate end to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, described the attacks on civilian airports as a serious escalation that threatens regional stability and complicates efforts to secure lasting peace in Yemen.
RENEWED CONFLICT RAISES FEARS OF REGIONAL ESCALATION
The airport attack comes amid renewed hostilities between Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which receives support from Saudi Arabia, and the Houthi movement, which controls much of north-western Yemen.
The latest violence follows a breakdown in the truce and an increase in attacks affecting Saudi airports, energy facilities and shipping routes in the Red Sea.
The Houthis have presented their military campaign as retaliation for Saudi Arabia’s involvement in Yemen’s conflict and what they describe as a prolonged blockade.
Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen’s civil war in 2015 as part of a coalition supporting the internationally recognised government against the Houthis. A United Nations-backed truce in 2022 helped reduce fighting, but the renewed hostilities have raised concerns about a wider conflict across the region.
Several countries, including Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, Jordan, India, Japan, Canada and Malaysia, have condemned the airport attack and expressed support for Saudi Arabia.
The latest incident has intensified concerns over civilian safety, regional security and the possibility that further military action could undermine diplomatic efforts to resolve Yemen’s long-running conflict.
With Washington considering its next move and the Saudi-led coalition promising a response, attention is now focused on whether the attack will trigger a broader military confrontation or renewed international efforts to restore peace.
