Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport Kills 12, Injures 309, Saudi-Led Coalition Vows Response
WASHINGTON/RIYADH:Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority has reported that 12 people were killed and 309 injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, blaming Yemen’s Houthi movement for the strike. Some of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.
The Saudi-led military coalition on Sunday vowed decisive action against the Houthis, describing the airport attack as a full-fledged war crime. A diplomatic source said the incident involved a missile strike.
According to the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority, the fatalities included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Airport operations were suspended following the attack, while authorities began assessing the damage. A medical source said health officials had urgently called in large numbers of doctors to deal with the emergency. Two doctors also said that several pilgrims travelling to Makkah were among those injured.
The attack came amid an unprecedented wave of Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia, reportedly following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement in July during the group’s prolonged conflict with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government.
The escalating violence has raised concerns about a wider confrontation. US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington could become involved in military action against the Houthis.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly condemned the recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including Saturday’s strike on King Khalid International Airport, which reportedly killed 12 people, including an American citizen.
The latest incident has heightened regional tensions as Saudi Arabia’s military coalition signals its intention to respond to the attacks.
