12 Killed, 309 Injured As Houthi Rebels Strike Saudi Airport

At least 12 people have died and 309 others sustained injuries after Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to threaten a decisive military response.

The coalition blamed the Iran-backed rebels for the attack, describing it as a “full-fledged war crime”. A diplomatic source attributed the strike to a missile.

The assault came amid a surge in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia following the collapse of a four-year truce in July. The renewed fighting has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict.

A passenger who spoke to AFP described scenes of panic at the airport’s domestic terminal, where the strike reportedly hit.

“I was on gate 403,” the witness said. “I saw 401 hit, I saw injured in front of my eyes. Everyone was running.”

Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority said the dead included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis and nationals of the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Sudan. One Palestinian also died in the attack.

The authority added that some of the 309 injured remained in serious condition. Airport officials suspended operations as emergency teams assessed the damage and responded to the casualties.

A medical source said health officials had urgently mobilised doctors to handle what they described as a “serious emergency situation”.

Two doctors also told AFP that several pilgrims travelling to Mecca were among those injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, authorities in Riyadh ordered schools to switch to remote learning for the second time in a month. Parents received emails on Sunday informing them that schools across the Saudi capital would conduct lessons online throughout the week.

The Saudi-led coalition condemned the attack on civilians and airport personnel, vowing to respond to the latest escalation.

Earlier, the coalition announced that it had intercepted missiles targeting Saudi Arabia and destroyed launch platforms used by the rebels.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for a series of attacks targeting the airport on Thursday. Those strikes reportedly killed three people and damaged an aircraft, although the group had not immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday’s latest assault.

The attack was described as the deadliest on Saudi soil since May 2015, when a suicide bombing by Islamic State militants killed 21 worshippers at a Shia mosque in Qatif, eastern Saudi Arabia.

Trump Signals Possible US Military Action

The latest violence has increased pressure on Saudi Arabia as Yemen’s civil war intensifies amid a broader Middle East conflict that has disrupted regional security and energy markets.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2015. The conflict escalated again in July following the collapse of a United Nations-brokered truce that had lasted four years.

US President Donald Trump indicated on Saturday that Washington could join military action against the Houthis.

Asked whether he had changed his position on participating in Saudi strikes against the rebels, Trump replied, “We may.”

He also said he intended to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, describing the airport attack as “not acceptable”.

US media reports had previously indicated that Washington rejected Saudi requests for American military assistance against the Houthis.

Embassies Issue Travel Warnings

The United States, Canada, Germany and Spain issued warnings to their citizens in Saudi Arabia, urging them to avoid the airport following the attack.

A senior Western diplomat told AFP that several embassies had barred their staff from using the facility over the following week.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, condemned what he described as a “heinous attack”. He also reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security under their defence agreement.

The assault came shortly before Saudi Arabia’s annual convention and entertainment season, which begins this month. Riyadh hosts numerous international events during the period, including a major investment conference that attracts foreign leaders and business executives.

Fighting Intensifies In Yemen

Meanwhile, Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces were advancing against Houthi positions around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, according to military sources cited by AFP.

The rebels captured areas around the strategic waterway last month, prompting the Yemeni government to announce a counter-offensive last week. The operation aims to recover all territories under Houthi control.

The Houthis confirmed that government forces had launched attacks in the Bab al-Mandab area but claimed they had repelled the offensive.

The strait serves as a critical passage for oil and cargo shipments travelling through the Red Sea, making the renewed fighting a significant concern for international trade and maritime security.

However, independent verification of battlefield developments remains difficult. The rapidly changing situation and limited access for journalists have complicated efforts to establish the full extent of military advances claimed by both sides.