Houthi attack on Riyadh airport kills 12 and injures over 300, suspending operations

A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured more than 300 on Saturday, October 10, 2026. Saudi civil aviation authorities listed the dead as four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, and the United States. Operations at the airport were suspended. The strike hit a complex housing terminals 3 and 4 used for domestic flights.

This was the third attack on the airport this week. Earlier strikes on Thursday killed three Saudis, including a Saudia pilot, and damaged an aircraft on the ground. Additional attacks earlier in the week killed three more people at Abha and other airports. Yemen’s Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for several of the strikes and has warned airlines against operating in Saudi airspace. No immediate claim covered the Saturday attack, but Houthi statements continued to treat Riyadh airport as a military target.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed Houthi missile launch platforms in response to earlier strikes. Western embassies urged citizens to avoid the airport area. A witness described seeing the strike hit near gate 401 and people running. Ambulances and helicopters moved the wounded to hospitals. Some injuries were critical. A medical source identified at least two of the Saturday victims as an Egyptian flight attendant and a Palestinian traveler.

The attacks form part of an escalation in the Yemen conflict that intensified after the broader Iran conflict began in February. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have pressed an offensive against Houthi positions, including efforts to retake territory near the Red Sea. The Houthis have responded with missile and drone strikes on Saudi airports and infrastructure. Fighting has also intensified around Taiz. The Houthis have encircled government forces in the city and seek to hold coastal positions.

Riyadh is due to host a major meeting of global oil executives in the coming days. Flight cancellations already exceeded 290 in the 24 hours before the latest strike. The airport serves a city of about eight million people and is the kingdom’s busiest. The pattern of strikes has exposed gaps in air defense against low-flying or ballistic missiles. Debris from interceptions has also damaged civilian sites, including a kindergarten and a medical complex in earlier incidents.

President Trump said the United States would look at joining Saudi strikes on the Houthis. The death toll makes this the deadliest single attack on a Gulf airport since the current phase of the regional conflict. Recovery of operations will depend on how quickly authorities can clear damage and restore confidence for airlines and passengers. The Houthis have stated that only pre-approved humanitarian flights should land at the airport.