Deadly Riyadh Airport Attack Leaves 12 Dead and Over 300 Injured Amid Escalating Conflict with Yemen's Houthis

Saudi Arabia announced that 12 people were killed and 309 were injured following an attack on the Riyadh airport, marking the deadliest incident in the intensifying conflict with Yemen’s Houthis.

Saudi civil aviation authorities confirmed that airport operations were temporarily suspended while damage assessments were underway. Officials noted that some of the injured remain in critical condition.

In response to the violence, the US issued a warning advising citizens to avoid the airport in the Saudi capital. Saudi Arabia confirmed that one of the deceased was an American citizen, a detail corroborated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described the strikes as "reprehensible." Meanwhile, the UK characterized the incident as "serious," prompting international carriers such as Kuwait’s national carrier to scrap flights.

President Donald Trump stated his intention to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Speaking to reporters on Saturday evening upon returning to Washington from a political rally, he remarked, "What happened in Saudi Arabia is not acceptable." Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump mentioned that the US might consider joining the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels, stating, "We may. We’re going to look at it."

According to sources briefed on the situation, hospitals were overwhelmed with wounded individuals transported by ambulance and helicopter. The Saturday attack occurred without prior warning, as no alert was issued by Saudi Arabia's threat warning system. This followed two previous attacks earlier in the week on King Khalid International Airport, which resulted in four deaths and severe damage to a Saudi commercial plane parked on the tarmac.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed that approximately 260 flights to and from Riyadh were canceled on Saturday, with an additional 219 flights delayed.

The escalation comes as the Houthis face a ground offensive in Yemen led by a Saudi-led coalition. Troops from the internationally recognised Yemeni government and the Saudi air force are actively working to reclaim territory seized by the militant group over the preceding month near the strategic Bab Al Mandeb Strait. The offensive, which began on Sunday, has reportedly resulted in territorial gains for the coalition, including the recapture of the Red Sea port city of Mokha.

The Saudi-led group stated its objective is to “eliminate” the Houthis, who maintain control over regions housing roughly 70 percent of Yemen’s population, including the capital, Sanaa. These deadly strikes have highlighted vulnerabilities in the kingdom's defense infrastructure while it continues an air campaign to support the Yemeni government's ground war against the Iran-backed group.

A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has vowed a firm response to the assault. While Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government have reported conducting hundreds of strikes on targets within Houthi-held territory—which the Houthis claim have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children—Reuters has been unable to independently verify those claims.