12 Killed, Including Bangladeshis, Over 300 Injured in Attack on Saudi Airport

At least 12 people, including two Bangladeshis, were killed and 309 injured in an attack blamed on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi armed group at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. Airport operations were temporarily suspended following the attack.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed the casualties in a statement early Sunday (October 11). It said the attack took place on Saturday night.

The victims included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

Several injured people are in critical condition and are receiving treatment at hospitals, the statement said. The attack also damaged several facilities, and authorities are assessing the extent of the damage.

Earlier, airport authorities announced a temporary suspension of operations and said officials were reviewing the damage and trying to determine the exact number of casualties.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen blamed the group for the attack on the passenger terminal. The coalition described it as a “full-fledged war crime”.

Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the attack would be met with a firm response under international humanitarian law.

Mr Al-Maliki also reported a separate incident near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. In a post on X, he said a projectile had landed near the airport.

The United States also condemned the attack. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly denounced the Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia, particularly Saturday’s strike on King Khalid International Airport.

However, the Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

In a social media post on Saturday, Mr Rubio said the attacks showed a blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians and must stop immediately.

Earlier on Thursday, at least three Saudi nationals were killed in a Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport, according to GACA. One of the victims was a pilot.

The Houthis are engaged in a conflict with Saudi Arabia and the Aden-based Yemeni government backed by Riyadh.

Al Jazeera correspondent Yousef Mawry, reporting from Yemen on Saturday, said the Houthis had yet to claim responsibility for the latest attack. However, the Iran-backed group had warned airlines against using Saudi airspace.

The group said any aircraft operating in Saudi airspace, except those flying over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, would be considered a target.

Earlier on Saturday, amid reports of disruptions to air travel, King Khalid International Airport authorities had advised passengers to contact their airlines directly and check flight status before leaving for the airport. The initial advisory did not specify the cause of the disruption.

Following the attack, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry also advised Saudi citizens travelling abroad to contact local embassies if their travel plans were disrupted.

As news of the latest attack spread, reporters outside the White House asked US President Donald Trump whether Washington planned to join Saudi Arabia in military action against the Houthis.

Mr Trump said the United States might join the campaign and that the matter was under consideration. He added that the administration had just received news of the latest attack and would make a decision soon.

Meanwhile, the embassies of several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada, issued security alerts for their citizens in Saudi Arabia.

The US mission said it was aware of the attack on King Khalid International Airport and strongly advised American citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas.

The British and Irish embassies warned their citizens of a “serious incident” at the airport. Canada’s embassy advised its citizens in Riyadh to avoid all travel to the airport, citing ongoing military activity.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Saturday’s attack, describing it as a direct threat to regional security. Jordan and Oman expressed solidarity with Riyadh. Japan’s embassy also strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and other civilian facilities.

Kuwait Airways announced flight cancellations due to the airport closure, citing the security situation.

Earlier on Thursday, a Houthi military spokesperson said the group had launched a ballistic missile targeting Riyadh’s airport. He claimed the missile had hit its intended target, causing damage and disrupting air traffic.

A few days earlier, three civilians were killed and 36 injured in attacks allegedly carried out by the Houthis on Abha and King Khalid airports.

Source: Al Jazeera