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Houthi Strike on Riyadh Airport Kills 12, Injures Over 300 — AI-generated representative image showing smoke rising over Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport following a reported missile strike.

Editorial Team

Saudi aviation authority confirms GACA casualties include an American as Yemen missile attacks escalate

A Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday killed 12 people, including an American citizen, and injured another 309, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed on Sunday.

The fatalities included four Saudi citizens and eight foreign nationals, with some of the injured remaining in critical condition, the aviation authority said.

The strike marks a significant escalation in hostilities that have reignited along Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen, disrupting one of the kingdom's busiest airports and prompting warnings from Western diplomatic missions.

The attack comes nearly a week after Yemen's Saudi-backed government launched a major offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis, turning Riyadh's civilian infrastructure into a direct target of the conflict.

Casualties and Immediate Impact

GACA confirmed that the eight foreign nationals killed included two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. The authority added that the extent of damage to the airport is still being assessed.

A missile struck the building housing two terminals used for domestic flights, according to AP, which cited a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Videos circulating on social media appear to show a plume of smoke rising above Terminal 3 following the strike.

At least 316 flights to and from Riyadh airport were canceled on Saturday, according to data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24. The US Embassy and several other Western diplomatic missions urged citizens to avoid the airport and warned of major travel disruptions.

Renewed Conflict in Yemen

Saudi Arabia has led a military campaign against the Houthis since 2015. Hostilities largely subsided following a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022 before flaring up again this July following a strike on Sanaa Airport by Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.

Fighting escalated further in September as the Houthis made their biggest territorial gains in years, capturing the strategic port of Mocha and expanding their control along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital international shipping route.

The current offensive by Yemen's internationally recognized government targets areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with Saudi-led forces supporting the operation through airstrikes. The Houthis have responded with missile and drone attacks on targets inside Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh's international airport.

Houthi Claims and Warning

Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior official and spokesman for the Yemeni group also known as Ansar Allah, confirmed responsibility for the strike, saying it was intended to force Saudi Arabia to agree to a "comprehensive and permanent peace" and an end to the war and mutual blockade.

Al-Bukhaiti accused Riyadh of destroying Yemen's civilian infrastructure over the past 12 years, including airports, seaports, schools, hospitals, markets, and wedding and funeral halls. He said the Houthis are responding in kind to Saudi attacks, but insisted the strikes aim to pressure Saudi leaders into accepting a lasting peace agreement rather than being motivated by revenge.

"Our military operations deep inside the Saudi entity will continue and will not end except by destroying all Saudi infrastructure belonging to the government," he warned, specifically naming military facilities, airports, ports, and other vital installations.

What Lies Ahead

Asked whether US forces could join the Saudi strikes against the Houthis, US President Donald Trump told reporters: "We may. We're going to look at it."

GACA has indicated that damage assessments at the airport are ongoing, while diplomatic missions continue to warn citizens of travel disruptions. Further details on the full scope of the attack and any additional official responses remain awaited.