The Riyadh airport attack on Saturday killed at least 12 people and wounded 309, Saudi aviation authorities said. That is far beyond the “dozens hurt” in the first headlines. It is also the third time this week that missiles have hit King Khalid International Airport.
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority suspended operations while crews assess the damage and run safety checks. So far, it has not announced a reopening time. For the latest on flights, see our Riyadh airport status update.
What we know about the Riyadh airport attack
An AP report, citing a regional official, said the missile struck the complex housing Terminals 3 and 4. Those terminals handle domestic flights. As a result, officials evacuated the terminal. The kingdom’s early warning system reportedly sounded no alert beforehand.
One witness told AFP he was at gate 403 and saw gate 401 hit. A hospital source said five of the wounded were in intensive care. Health officials also activated a rare mass call-up of doctors. In addition, two doctors told AFP that several pilgrims bound for Mecca were among the injured.
The dead came from across the region and beyond. The aviation authority said they included four Saudis and two Bangladeshis. The rest were one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, according to CBS News. Officials have not released the American’s identity.
Who is behind the Houthi strike on Riyadh airport?
The Saudi statement did not name an attacker. However, the State Department blamed the Houthis. Reuters reported that the group claimed responsibility. The head of its media office said on X that it had “shut down Riyadh international airport.” Still, other outlets reported no claim at the time of writing. Treat the claim with caution for now.
The Houthis have declared Saudi airspace a “zone of military operations” and told airlines to avoid it. That move followed a Saudi-backed Yemeni government offensive launched Monday. A Houthi official later told RT the group will keep striking Saudi targets. It will stop only when Riyadh agrees to a peace deal. That deal must end the war and the blockade of Houthi-held northern Yemen.
A week of escalating strikes before Saturday
Saturday’s attack did not come out of nowhere. Earlier this week, strikes on Abha International and King Khalid airports killed three foreign nationals and injured 36. On Thursday, a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh killed three Saudis, including Saudia pilot Capt. Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, and damaged a Saudia aircraft. The airport reopened on Friday.
That recovery lasted about a day. Meanwhile, Flightradar24 showed every flight to Riyadh diverted or cancelled after Saturday’s hit, and Kuwait Airways scrapped its flights. The UK, Irish and Canadian embassies issued warnings. Qatar called the strike “a direct threat to the security of the region.”
Here’s the thing: Riyadh is a city of 8 million
This is not a distant skirmish. Riyadh is a city of roughly 8 million people, and its main airport is now a repeated target. After this Riyadh airport attack, that airport’s role as a major hub for business, pilgrims and energy-sector travel is at risk.
The city is also preparing to host major energy and investment gatherings. Airlines have repeatedly suspended or diverted service in recent days. If airlines stay away, the economic cost will grow even without another strike. The same pattern has already disrupted Red Sea shipping and global trade.
What the Riyadh airport missile strike means for Trump’s next move
President Trump said he is weighing how to respond. CBS reported he is considering whether the US should join the fight against the Houthis. Reports also say Washington has so far held off despite at least two requests from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The offensive in Yemen and the Houthi strikes both continue. The Houthi leader has warned Riyadh to prepare for a long conflict. So the question hanging over the kingdom is simple: how many more times can missiles hit an airport before the world stops flying in?
