Attack on Saudi airport leaves 12 dead, dozens wounded

Smoke and flames engulfed King Khalid Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, marking the third attack on the Saudi international airport within the week. According to Saudi authorities, the assault resulted in at least 12 deaths and over 300 injuries. The victims comprised four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, one individual each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.

Hospitals were inundated with the wounded, many of whom were in critical condition. The attack came without any prior warning from Saudi Arabia's threat detection system, highlighting the vulnerability in the kingdom's self-defense mechanisms while it continues its air campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis to aid the Yemeni government's ground war.

This week's deadly strikes have underscored the security challenges facing Saudi Arabia as it confronts the Houthis. The kingdom and the Yemeni government have reported hundreds of strikes on Houthi-held targets, but these claims have not been independently verified. The Saudi civil aviation authority suspended all flights to Riyadh on Saturday, leading to the temporary suspension of operations at the airport that serves a city of approximately eight million people.

The Houthi media office claimed responsibility for the strike, stating that they had shut down Riyadh International Airport. They have also warned airliners to avoid Saudi airspace, designating it a zone of military operations following the Saudi-backed Yemeni government's offensive against the group on Monday. US President Donald Trump was asked whether Washington intended to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis, stating that they would review the situation and make a decision swiftly.

Major summits were scheduled to take place in Riyadh, but after the attack, all flights were diverted or canceled, with only a helicopter visible over the airport. Despite the security concerns, organizers of the conferences assured attendees that their events would proceed as planned, emphasizing their commitment to security measures.