Houthi Missile Strike Kills 12, Injures 309 at Riyadh Airport in Deadliest Attack Yet on Saudi Arabia

Deadliest Airport Strike Yet

RIYADH, Sunday, October 11, 2026 — At least 12 people were killed and 309 wounded on Saturday when a Houthi missile struck the domestic terminal complex of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said, in the deadliest attack on a Gulf Arab country since the Iran war began in February.

Regional officials said the missile hit the complex housing Terminals 3 and 4, which handle domestic flights, without warning — Saudi Arabia’s threat warning system issued no alert. Witnesses described an explosion that shattered terminal glass and a section of ceiling near a departure gate collapsing as travellers ran for cover.

The strike was the third Houthi attack on the hub in a single week. Earlier attacks on Thursday killed four people, including a Saudia pilot, and badly damaged an aircraft on the tarmac.

An American Among the Dead

Saudi aviation authorities said the dead included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, and one national each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. Some of the 309 injured remained in critical condition, officials said, with hospitals in the capital receiving casualties by ambulance and helicopter.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the American death and said Washington strongly condemns the strikes. “These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now,” he said. The US, UK, Spain and Canada are among countries that have warned their citizens against using the airport.

Trump: US May Join Saudi Strikes

President Donald Trump said outside the White House that Washington was evaluating whether to join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. “We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack,” he said, adding that a decision would come quickly and that he plans to call Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Trump called the strike a “terrible thing” and praised Saudi forces, saying “the Saudis are good fighters.” The US Mission in Saudi Arabia issued a security alert Sunday directing American nationals to steer clear of King Khalid International Airport, warning of possible flight cancellations and airspace restrictions.

Flights Grounded, Airspace Under Scrutiny

All flights bound for Riyadh were diverted or cancelled after the strike, and operations were temporarily suspended. FlightAware data showed at least 291 flights cancelled over a 24-hour period, trade sources said.

Several international carriers, including Air India, flydubai, the Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines, had already suspended Riyadh services for varying periods, while Kuwait Airways and Etihad cancelled more flights citing the security situation. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, warning that missile and drone attacks — as well as interception efforts — raise the risk of civil aircraft being misidentified.

Coalition Vows Firm Response

The Saudi-led coalition condemned the strike as a war crime and vowed a decisive response. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the attack had targeted a passenger terminal and announced on X that a projectile had also fallen near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam — which had not previously been reported as a target.

The UN envoy for Yemen has warned the country has returned to “full-scale war,” urging dialogue as the exchange of strikes deepens.