An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured 309, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said. The casualties included Saudi citizens and foreign nationals. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition and were receiving medical care.
Airport operations halted
The aviation authority said the attack caused damage at the airport. Flights were temporarily suspended while officials assessed the facilities and checked whether they were safe to resume operations. Authorities said the extent of the material damage was still being evaluated.
The attack took place on Saturday, October 10, amid repeated threats to Saudi civil aviation infrastructure. It was described by officials as the third assault on King Khalid International Airport that week. Earlier incidents had also caused casualties, though the toll from Saturday’s attack was reported separately.
Regional tensions
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen blamed Yemen’s Houthi movement for the strike and condemned it as a serious violation of the laws of war. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said the coalition would respond, while the Houthis had not issued a formal claim of responsibility in the initial coverage.
Saudi authorities said they were coordinating the airport’s safety review and would provide further updates. Passengers were advised to check with airlines as the suspension and damage assessment affected flight operations.
