Riyadh airport attack kills at least 12, injures more than 300, Saudi authorities say
A Riyadh airport attack killed 12 people and injured over 300, as regional tensions escalated.
An attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, resulted in 12 deaths and over 300 injuries, according to Saudi authorities. The victims comprised four Saudi citizens and nationals from Bangladesh, Palestine, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Sudan. The assailant remains unknown. Following the attack, Saudi civil aviation authorities halted operations at Riyadh airport and initiated damage and casualty assessments.
The suspension is set to last until midnight, with flights diverted to other airports. Several airlines had already suspended services to Riyadh and other Saudi airports due to heightened security concerns. This attack follows days after Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for prior strikes on the airport that caused three fatalities, including a pilot, as reported by the Associated Press.
A regional official revealed that a missile struck a terminal complex housing domestic flights on Saturday. The latest incident adds to a series of attacks on Saudi airports, military installations, and oil infrastructure, which have escalated following a significant military campaign by a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in Yemen.
US President Donald Trump expressed consideration of joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis, pending an assessment of the latest attack. The Houthis have accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport in Yemen's Houthi-controlled capital. Tensions between the rebels and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have intensified, with the Saudi-led coalition providing air support to the latter.
Saudi authorities have advised the public against filming or sharing details about missile and drone interceptions and their impact sites, warning that such actions could result in legal repercussions. The attacks have also had a significant impact on air travel, with at least 291 cancellations recorded at Riyadh airport in the preceding 24 hours, and authorities warning of heightened risks for civilian aircraft in Saudi airspace.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Attacks on Riyadh threaten Saudi confidence semafor.com
- Saudi Railways adds overnight trains from Qassim to Riyadh via Majmaah saudigazette.com.sa
