Riyadh: A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, killed 12 people and injured 309 others, including several in critical condition, Saudi civil aviation authorities said on Sunday, October 11.
The strike on Saturday hit a complex housing terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights, according to a regional official cited in initial reports. The attack has intensified concerns about the widening conflict involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the strike, according to subsequent reporting. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has said Washington is considering whether to join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the group.
How Many People Were Killed In The Riyadh Airport Attack?
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries. Some of the injured were in critical condition and were receiving treatment at hospitals.
The victims included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Sudan.
The attack also caused damage at the airport, with authorities assessing its extent. Airport operations were suspended following the strike, according to reports.
Who Is Responsible For The Riyadh Airport Strike?
The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis blamed the Yemen-based group for the attack and described it as a war crime. Subsequent reports said the Houthis had claimed responsibility.
The strike is part of a broader escalation in fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. The latest violence has also widened the regional conflict linked to the war involving Iran.
The Houthis had earlier accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport, located in the Yemeni capital under their control. The competing attacks and accusations have added to concerns about further escalation.
Will The US Join Saudi Arabia’s Strikes Against The Houthis?
Trump said on Saturday that the United States was assessing whether to join Saudi military strikes against the Houthis.
“We may. We’re going to look at it,” he said, adding that the administration had just learned about the latest attack and would make a decision.
His remarks raise the possibility of deeper US involvement in the conflict. However, no final decision to join the Saudi campaign was announced in the remarks cited in the initial reports.
Why Is The Riyadh Airport Attack Significant?
The attack was described in initial reporting as the deadliest strike in a Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war. It also marked a major escalation in the growing confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
The airport has no military facilities, according to the regional official cited in the initial account. A strike on a major civilian aviation hub, with casualties among several nationalities, has heightened concerns over the safety of civilian infrastructure.
The immediate focus remains on treating the injured, assessing the damage and determining the next military response. Any US decision to join Saudi strikes could further widen the conflict.
