Riyadh airport stays shut after deadly attack as Trump says US may join Saudi strikes on Houthis

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport remained shut on Sunday following a deadly attack that claimed 12 lives, while US President Donald Trump suggested Washington might join Saudi strikes against Yemen's Houthis. Asked if the US would participate, Trump stated, "We may. We're going to look at it," though he did not make a definitive decision to join the strikes. Saudi Arabia's coalition blamed the Iran-backed Houthis for the assault and vowed a robust response, while describing the attack as "terrible."

The attack left 309 people injured, including four Saudis and eight foreigners, such as an American citizen. The Houthis threatened airlines, airport personnel, and travelers against using Saudi airports, warning of ongoing vulnerabilities to attack. Meanwhile, a projectile landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam the previous day.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the strike a "dangerous escalation" and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, warning that Iran's proxies were pushing the region into a spiral of violence. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack, stating that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and must cease immediately.

Qatar condemned the strike as a violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to civilians and aviation safety, while UN Yemen envoy Hans Grundberg warned that the attacks posed a threat to regional security and complicated peace efforts in Yemen.

Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 extended the airport's closure until midnight local time on Monday, October 12. Saudi aviation authorities had not confirmed when flights would resume. Etihad Airways suspended six flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh on Sunday and a return service on Monday. Emirates also canceled Riyadh flights on Sunday and Monday.

Lufthansa Group previously suspended flights to Riyadh through October 16, and SriLankan Airlines halted its services until October 18, citing security concerns and safety assessments. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its warning to cover more Saudi airspace, citing risks from missile and drone attacks, air defense activity, and falling debris.

The disruption also impacted schools in Riyadh, which switched to remote learning for a week under the education ministry's instructions. This marked the second time in under a month that Riyadh schools were instructed to move lessons online.