King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remained closed on Sunday, 11 October, after a deadly strike on a passenger terminal the previous day and another attack that set a passenger hall on fire. The incidents marked a sharp escalation in attacks attributed to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The Saturday attack killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, according to the supplied reports. Saudi aviation authorities recorded 309 injured, while another account gave a total of 308. Four Saudi nationals and eight foreign nationals, including a US citizen, were among those killed, according to figures reported by Euronews. The Indian embassy subsequently confirmed that an Indian national wounded in the Saturday attack died on Sunday.
A further strike hit the airport on Sunday. The BBC reported that one Pakistani resident was killed and 11 people were injured after a projectile struck Passenger Hall No. 4 and caused a fire. Saudi coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said air defences had intercepted a missile near the airport while authorities dealt with the fire. The precise relationship between the intercepted missile and the projectile that hit the hall was not established.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks and said their operations involved ballistic and cruise missiles and drones. They warned airlines, airport workers and passengers against using Saudi airports and airspace, threatening further operations inside the kingdom. The Saudi-led coalition blamed the group for the Saturday attack and promised a decisive response.
Airport closure disrupts international travel
The suspension of airport operations continued on Sunday, with flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reporting that the closure had been extended until midnight local time at the start of Monday, 12 October. Saudi aviation authorities had not confirmed when flights would resume. Aviation sources cited by Euronews said operators had been informed that services would remain suspended and that radar and communications equipment had been damaged, with the runways requiring assessment.
Several international airlines cancelled or suspended services. Etihad Airways cancelled six flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on Sunday and another return service scheduled for Monday. Emirates also cancelled Riyadh flights, while Lufthansa Group had suspended services through 16 October and SriLankan Airlines through 18 October. Passengers were advised to check directly with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
The disruption extended beyond aviation. According to an email to parents reported by AFP, schools in the Saudi capital were instructed to switch to remote learning for the week. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency had also expanded its warning to cover more Saudi airspace, citing risks from missiles, drones, air-defence activity and falling debris.
International condemnation and possible military response
US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering whether to join Saudi strikes against the Houthis but had not announced a decision. He said Saudi Arabia could defend itself and described the airport attack as terrible. The BBC also reported that UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting had suggested Britain could potentially provide further support to Saudi Arabia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack and warned about risks to international transport and energy infrastructure. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and must cease immediately. Qatar also condemned the strike, while UN envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that the escalation threatened regional security and complicated efforts to achieve peace.
The Houthis said they were targeting Saudi Arabia because of its support for Yemeni government forces and an air strike on Sanaa airport. The attacks have taken place amid renewed fighting following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire between the Houthis and Saudi-led forces in July. The series of airport strikes has left Riyadh’s main international gateway closed and the next steps by Saudi Arabia and its partners unresolved.