Attack on Saudi airport leaves 12 dead, dozens wounded

Riyadh Airport Attack Kills 12 and Forces Major Flight Disruptions

Activelifezero.com – A strike on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday killed at least 12 people and injured dozens more, marking the third attack on the Saudi capital’s main aviation hub this week. Flights were diverted or canceled as emergency crews moved casualties from the airport, while several Western governments urged their citizens to stay away from the surrounding area.

Three people familiar with the situation said the casualty count was preliminary. Two of them were Western officials. Some of those hurt were transported by ambulance and helicopter, and several were believed to be in critical condition. Saudi authorities had not released an official death or injury figure, and the government’s media office did not immediately answer questions about the incident.

The attack happened without advance warning. Saudi Arabia’s threat-alert system did not issue a notice before the strike, adding to concern about the country’s ability to protect a major civilian transport facility during a period of increasing regional tensions.

Airport Operations Halted

Riyadh’s airport, the kingdom’s busiest and a critical gateway for a city with roughly 8 million residents, temporarily suspended operations after the attack. Flight-tracking data showed inbound services being diverted or canceled, while a helicopter was at one point the only aircraft visible near the airport.

Kuwait Airways canceled services to and from Riyadh, citing the airport’s closure because of the security situation. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways had already halted a number of flights between Riyadh and their hubs, with some cancellations extending through Monday.

Air travel to the Saudi capital had already been affected by earlier strikes. Airlines had begun suspending or canceling services after attacks on Thursday and earlier in the week, at a time when Riyadh is preparing to host major energy and investment conferences. Event organizers said Saturday that the conferences would proceed and sought to reassure participants about security arrangements.

An eyewitness inside the airport described seeing an explosion followed by several people lying injured on the ground. More than a dozen ambulances were seen heading toward the facility. An injured traveler said something appeared to cross the sky outside the airport before part of a ceiling near a departure gate collapsed.

Houthis Under Growing Suspicion

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack. However, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has intensified missile strikes against Saudi Arabia and claimed the two previous attacks on Riyadh’s airport this week.

After the latest incident, the Houthi military spokesperson reposted an earlier message stating that only humanitarian flights approved in advance could land at the airport. The post ended with the words:

“a reminder.”

The strikes earlier in the week killed four people and severely damaged a Saudi commercial aircraft. The succession of attacks has placed renewed focus on Saudi Arabia’s air defenses as the kingdom continues an air campaign against the Houthis in support of Yemeni government forces fighting the group on the ground.

The Houthis have declared Saudi airspace a military operations zone and said commercial aircraft should avoid it. That warning followed a Saudi-backed Yemeni government offensive launched against the group earlier this month.

International Warnings and US Response

The US Embassy in Riyadh said it was aware of attacks and strongly advised American citizens to avoid the airport and nearby areas. British and Irish diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia said they were aware of a serious incident. Canada’s embassy said continuing military activity had affected airport operations.

US President Donald Trump was asked outside the White House whether Washington could take part in Saudi attacks against the Houthis. He said the United States was considering its options.

“We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly,” he said.

Any direct US military participation would represent a significant development in a conflict that has already drawn in regional powers and affected vital civilian infrastructure, commercial aviation, and maritime routes.

Pressure Grows in Yemen and at Sea

The airport attacks come as the conflict in Yemen continues to produce setbacks and shifting territorial claims. Forces supported by Riyadh have faced pressure in Yemen, where the Houthis have tightened their siege of Taiz, the country’s third-largest city.

Saudi and Yemeni authorities have separately said they retook Bab el-Mandeb, a strategic maritime chokepoint that the Houthis seized in a rapid offensive last month. The narrow passage is of major importance to international shipping because it connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and routes leading toward the Indian Ocean.

The combination of missile attacks on Riyadh, disruption to air travel, fighting in Yemen and disputes over control of maritime access underscores how rapidly the conflict’s consequences are expanding beyond the battlefield. For travelers, the immediate concern remains uncertainty around flight schedules and access to Riyadh’s airport. For Saudi Arabia, the attack raises difficult questions about civilian protection during an escalating confrontation with the Houthis.

The death toll and operational impact at the airport could change as officials continue assessing the damage and treating the wounded.