RIYADH: At least 12 people were killed and 309 injured in a deadly Houthis attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10. The incident has triggered an evacuation, widespread flight disruptions and growing concerns over the escalating West Asia conflict & its global repercussions. Meanwhile, India strongly condemned the repeated attacks on Riyadh airport, as “dastardly” and called for an immediate end to assaults on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
🚨 SHOCKING VISUALS FROM RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA 🇸🇦
A missile attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen on King Khalid International Airport has left 12 people dead and over 300 injured, including a US citizen. 🇺🇸
Meanwhile, After Pakistan's failure to help its umah brother,…
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) October 11, 2026
Houthis strikes on Riyadh airport kills 12; 309 Injured
Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport, a major aviation hub serving the kingdom’s capital, came under Houthis attack on Saturday, October 10, leaving at least 12 people dead and 309 wounded. The victims included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshi nationals and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
The attack struck the airport complex housing Terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights. Regional officials said that a missile hit the terminal complex, leaving several people wounded. Witnesses described scenes of panic as passengers attempted to flee the affected areas. “I was on gate 403. I saw 401 hit, I saw injured in front of my eyes. Everyone was running”, the witness said.
Another injured traveller told that they had seen an object flying across the sky outside the airport before part of the ceiling near a departure gate collapsed. Ambulances rushed to the airport to transport the wounded to hospitals, while medical facilities activated emergency arrangements to accommodate the influx of casualties.
The scale of the casualties made the attack one of the deadliest incidents to hit Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
⚠️ 🇸🇦 UPDATE: HOUTHI MISSILES STRIKE RIYADH AIRPORT TERMINAL, MULTIPLE CASUALTIES REPORTED
Ballistic missiles struck Terminal 3 of Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, forcing an evacuation and leaving multiple people injured, according to The Wall… https://t.co/nisAtYc6ZL
— The Tectonic (@thetect0nic) October 10, 2026
India strongly condemns repeated attacks
India on October 11, Sunday strongly condemned the repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, including the October 10 strike and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the latest attack as “dastardly” and said the repeated strikes had resulted in loss of life, injuries and damage to property.
New Delhi extended its condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The MEA stressed that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure were “completely unacceptable” and called for such acts to cease immediately.
India also reiterated its solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding the kingdom’s sovereignty. New Delhi expressed hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region at the earliest.
Statement on Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport and other civilian facilities ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/KqxIxD8ej5 pic.twitter.com/S9IKDv13jQ
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 11, 2026
Trump weighs US military action against Houthis
US President Donald Trump said that the United States could join Saudi Arabia’s strikes against the Houthis, although he stopped short of announcing a decision. “We may. We’re going to look at it”, Trump told reporters.
“We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly”, he added. The remarks came as Saudi Arabia continued its military campaign in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which has launched an offensive to reverse recent Houthis advances and strikes along the Red Sea coast.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, saying they demonstrated a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. He called for the strikes to stop immediately. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack, reiterating that assaults on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and must cease.
Houthis escalate attacks against Saudi Arabia; Warns to shut airport
The October 10 attack followed a series of assaults on Riyadh’s airport earlier in the week, highlighting the growing security threat facing West Asia. The earlier strikes reportedly killed four people and caused substantial damage to a Saudi commercial aircraft parked on the tarmac. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks and has repeatedly warned international airlines against operating in Saudi airspace, describing it as a theatre of military operations.
Saudi airport operations suspended, flights diverted
Following Saturday’s attack, operations at King Khalid International Airport were suspended and flights were diverted to other airports. Authorities advised passengers to contact their airlines and confirm flight arrangements before travelling to the facility. Police presence around the airport was strengthened and access to parts of the complex was restricted as officials assessed the damage.
Flight-tracking platforms reported widespread cancellations and diversions. FlightAware reported that hundreds of flights had been cancelled over a 24-hour period, while Flightradar24 showed significant disruption to operations. Several international airlines, including Air India, FlyDubai and Lufthansa Group had already suspended or curtailed services to Riyadh and other Saudi airports amid the deteriorating security situation.
The United States, Britain, Germany, Canada and other countries issued warnings advising their citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance concerning Saudi airspace, citing the Houthis’ demonstrated ability to strike targets deeper inside the kingdom, including Riyadh.
It warned that missile and drone attacks, together with interception efforts, increased the risk of civil aircraft being misidentified.
Saudi Arabia fight against Houthis in Yemen
The attacks on Saudi Arabia come amid a renewed escalation of crisis in Yemen. Saudi Arabia entered the conflict in 2015 to restore the internationally recognised government in Yemen and dislodge the Houthis from the capital, Sanaa, which the proxies seized in 2014.
The war subsequently descended into a prolonged stalemate, with fighting, famine and humanitarian distress contributing to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis. A ceasefire arrangement reached in 2022 significantly reduced fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. However, the truce broke, paving the way for renewed hostilities.
The latest escalation has been accompanied by a Houthi advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including threats of control over the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The narrow maritime passage connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a crucial route for international shipping between Europe and Asia.
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched a counteroffensive this week to reclaim territory along the coast. However, progress has reportedly been limited, while the Houthis have continued strikes.
Global energy markets and regional security at risk
Saudi Arabia is the world’s leading oil exporter, making attacks on its airports, oil facilities and maritime infrastructure a concern extending far beyond the immediate conflict. The Houthis’ expanding attacks has raised fears that the conflict could increasingly threaten energy infrastructure, international aviation and critical shipping corridors.
The latest attack has also placed additional pressure and security crisis in Saudi Arabia as it attempts to support government forces in Yemen while protecting its own territory against missiles and drones. The prospect of a more direct US military role against Houthis could further intensify hostilities in West Asia amid hitherto soaring conflict and no sign of concrete peace.
