Riyadh airport attack: One Indian killed, 10 others injured; Government says ‘unacceptable’

An Indian man lost his life and 10 others were injured in a missile strike on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday, according to the Indian Embassy. The Indian government swiftly condemned the attack as "completely unacceptable". India is home to over 2.7 million Indians, with many working as skilled and semi-skilled professionals.

India yet to confirm the identity of the deceased, The Indian Express reports that the victim resided in Hyderabad and was part of a 13-person group traveling for Umrah. The airport’s roof collapsed on him during the attack, as per a relative. Several of his family members were also injured.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, warning airlines, travelers, and airport staff to avoid Saudi Arabia's airports. Saudi-led coalition in Yemen stated that an "unidentified projectile" targeted the airport on Sunday, which Saudi air defenses intercepted. The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that 12 others, including four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a US citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese, were killed in the assault.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh expressed sympathy for the deceased's family and offered assistance for repatriating his remains. It also updated the embassy on the attack's aftermath and its ongoing support for the injured. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated the condemnation through his X account, emphasizing the need for the attacks to cease immediately to safeguard Saudi sovereignty and restore peace to the region.