Houthi missile attacks on Riyadh airport kill 12 and injure hundreds
Yemen's Houthi forces struck King Khalid International Airport, causing at least 12 deaths and over 300 injuries.
On Saturday, Houthi militants launched missiles at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 300. The same wave of attacks hit oil installations and Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia. The group said the strikes were a response to Riyadh's backing of Yemeni government troops and a Saudi air raid on Sanaa airport earlier this year.
CCTV footage released by state media captured pilgrims in white garments rushing for cover as dust filled a lounge and ceiling panels fell. The incident has shaken the perception of safety that expatriate families previously associated with the Saudi capital.
Why it matters
The attack demonstrates the reach of the Yemen conflict into Saudi Arabia, threatening civilian infrastructure and expatriate confidence.
How this story developed
- Oct 11 Missile strike on Riyadh airport kills 12, injures over 300
- Oct 11 Saudi authorities extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport.
- Oct 11 The strike on the Riyadh passenger terminal sparked a fire and prompted air-defence interception of a missile nearby. The Houthi movement said the attack responded to Saudi aggression, including a recent strike on Sanaa airport. The incident follows a larger assault the previous day that injured over 300 people and disrupted travel, prompting foreign executives to withdraw from the World Petroleum Congress. Saudi authorities assure heightened security for the upcoming World Petroleum Congress and the Future Investment Initiative.
- Oct 11 He also named King Fahd Airport in Dammam, an Aramco‑affiliated petrol station and a refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Region as targets.
- Oct 11 A second projectile hit the airport a day after the missile strike, raising the death toll to 13.
- Oct 12 A Pakistani national died in the latest projectile strike.
- Oct 12 The Omani embassy thanked Saudi authorities for the medical care provided to an injured Omani doctor.
- Oct 12 Saudi officials announced the continued closure of King Khalid International Airport pending safety inspections.
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