Attack on Riyadh's King Khalid Airport Leaves 12 Dead and Hundreds Injured
A missile and drone strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people, including a U.S. citizen, and injured more than 300, prompting the suspension of airport operations and heightened calls for regional security support.
Civil aviation authorities in Saudi Arabia reported that a missile and drone attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday killed 12 people and injured over 300, with several victims in critical condition. The casualties included four Saudi nationals, a U.S. citizen and citizens of Bangladesh, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Sudan. Injured passengers were taken to multiple hospitals for treatment.
The incident, the deadliest in the Gulf region since the start of the Iran-related conflict, followed earlier attacks on the same airport that killed three Saudis, including a pilot. Saudi officials have not assigned responsibility, but the attacks coincide with intensified fighting between Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and Saudi-backed forces.
"We may. We’re going to look at it," President Donald Trump said when asked whether the United States would join Saudi strikes against the Houthis, adding that a decision would be made quickly.
In response to the latest strike, Saudi civil aviation authorities suspended all airport operations until midnight and diverted flights to other hubs, according to flight-tracking data. More than 290 flights were canceled in the 24 hours after the attack, and several airlines had already suspended service to Saudi airports.
The Saudi foreign minister discussed diplomatic de-escalation with his Omani counterpart, while the kingdom warned that publishing images or information about missile and drone impacts could result in legal liability. The Saudi energy ministry continued to promote an international energy conference scheduled to begin in Riyadh despite the disruptions.
Regional officials said Saudi Arabia is experiencing a shortage of missile interceptors and has sought air-defense assistance from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, noting the increased risk of misidentifying civilian aircraft amid the missile and drone threats.