Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Airport Attack Kills 12, Injures 309 As Houthi Conflict Escalates In Yemen

Riyadh, October 11: A terror attack at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh claimed 12 lives and left 309 injured, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation. The fatalities comprised four Saudi nationals and eight foreigners, including residents from Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Injured victims are receiving medical treatment in various hospitals, with some in critical condition. Airport operations were put on hold temporarily pending damage assessments and safety assessments. The Riyadh attack comes amid escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group in Yemen. The Houthi group vowed retaliation, promising reciprocal measures against Saudi Arabia to safeguard airports, seaports, and other facilities involved in humanitarian aid amidst the ongoing military confrontation.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia retaliated by launching airstrikes across Houthi-controlled regions in Yemen, targeting Sanaa International Airport and areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and several northern provinces. Yemen's government forces announced that over 1,150 Houthi fighters and more than 180 military vehicles were eliminated in more than 1,900 strikes in a single day, though the figures could not be independently verified.

Indian nationals in Riyadh have been advised to stay indoors due to recent explosions, as reported by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh. Intensifying clashes have been reported near Taiz, Yemen's southwestern city, where Houthi advances have pressured government forces defending the city and disrupted crucial roads connecting it to government-held areas in southern Yemen.

In response, the Yemeni government launched a large-scale offensive on Monday, seeking to reclaim Houthi-held territory, with fierce fighting primarily around the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.