A recent attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has left 12 people dead and over 300 injured, marking the deadliest assault in a Gulf Arab nation since the Iran war began. The incident has intensified regional tensions, prompting Saudi Arabia to seek military support from allies like the U.S., while also leading to significant flight disruptions and international warnings about Saudi airspace.
A devastating assault on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has resulted in the deaths of 12 people and left over 300 injured, some critically, according to civil aviation authorities early Sunday. This marks the deadliest attack in any Gulf Arab nation since the commencement of the Iran war, a conflict whose scope has widened to encompass the intensified clashes between Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and Saudi-backed government forces.
While the statement from authorities refrained from assigning direct blame for the attack, it detailed the nationalities of the deceased, including four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese. Hospitals across the region are currently treating the injured.
This latest incident, following several other attacks on King Khalid International Airport in the past week that claimed four lives, is anticipated to amplify Saudi Arabia's calls for increased military backing from allies, including the United States.
Hours after the Saturday afternoon assault, President Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. was considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis. "We may. We're going to look at it," Trump stated. "We just found out about the recent attack. So we'll make a decision. We move very quickly."
A regional official, speaking anonymously due to not being authorized to comment publicly, confirmed that a missile struck an airport complex housing domestic flight terminals 3 and 4. This escalation, which includes attacks on other Saudi airports, military installations, and crucial oil infrastructure, follows a major military offensive launched by a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis a week prior. The rebels, who earlier Saturday accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital, often take days to claim responsibility for such actions.
Riyadh Airport Operations Suspended Amid Security Concerns
Saudi civil aviation authorities announced the suspension of airport operations shortly after the attack, with an official notice to aviators indicating the halt would last until midnight. The airport witnessed a heavy police presence, with all entrances blocked and lights dimmed around the complex. Flights were subsequently diverted to other locations, as tracked by Flightradar24. Several nations, including the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, and Canada, issued warnings to their citizens to avoid the airport, later extending condolences.
Later on Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition reported that a projectile had fallen near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and that a Houthi-launched ballistic missile targeting the Al-Kharj governorate, southeast of Riyadh, had been intercepted.
These attacks on Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter, have sent ripples through global markets and heightened regional anxieties. Despite this, the Saudi energy ministry continued to promote a major international energy conference scheduled to begin in Riyadh on Sunday, mere hours after the latest assault.
Fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces has intensified, with the Saudi-led coalition providing air support to government troops attempting to reverse recent Houthi advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast. These gains have provided the rebels with enhanced surveillance capabilities over a vital shipping corridor, a crucial alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has been involved in attacks on vessels. While the Houthis have asserted they are solely targeting Saudi shipping in retaliation for a blockade imposed on them, broader concerns about potential attacks on other vessels persist. The Houthis previously targeted other ships following the outbreak of the war in Gaza, claiming solidarity with Palestinians, though a subsequent U.S. bombing campaign significantly curtailed these activities.
Saudi Arabia Seeks International Air Defense Support
Regional officials informed the Associated Press last month that Saudi Arabia is facing a shortage of missile interceptors and has requested France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt to deploy air defense support to the region. One official noted that the U.S. has also seen its own stock dwindle during the ongoing conflict with Iran.
U.S. assistance, officials confirmed, has included intelligence sharing, target identification, and planning support for the latest offensive against the Houthis.
Earlier on Saturday, Saudi Arabia announced that its foreign minister and his Omani counterpart had discussed the importance of "supporting diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions" in the region. Oman, strategically located across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, has historically played a mediating role in regional diplomacy.
Growing Flight Disruptions and Aviation Warnings
The Houthis had issued a "final" warning this week to global airlines regarding the risks of operating in Saudi airspace, which they designated as a zone of military operations.
Prior to the recent attack, airlines such as Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa, and Pakistan International Airlines had already suspended flights to and from Riyadh and other Saudi airports for varying periods.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency had expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, highlighting the Houthis' increased capability to strike targets deeper within the kingdom, including Riyadh, and a "greater focus on aviation infrastructure." The agency warned that the missile and drone attacks, along with interception efforts, "create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft."
Two regional officials, who requested anonymity, reported that Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport on Thursday had damaged three planes. Saudi's national carrier confirmed that one of its aircraft on the ground was damaged, with no passengers on board.
Amid these developments, Saudi authorities issued a public warning this week that "filming, publishing or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability."
