Saudi Arabia reports 12 dead, 309 injured in Riyadh airport attack
In short
Saudi authorities said an October 10 attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured 309, Japanese outlets reported. Airport operations were suspended, while reports raised possible Houthi involvement and President Donald Trump said he would consider US participation in attacks on the group.
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Saudi authorities reported that an October 10 attack on the airport in the capital, Riyadh, killed 12 people and injured 309, Japanese outlets said. A Bloomberg report carried by TBS NEWS DIG identified the airport as King Khalid International Airport and said some injured people were in critical condition. Authorities suspended operations while assessing the damage. Tokyo Shimbun reported that the dead included Americans and Egyptians. [ 1 , 5 ]
The attack disrupted air services and triggered advice to avoid the airport. TBS's Bloomberg account said around 260 flights to and from Riyadh were cancelled on October 10 and another 219 delayed, citing Flightradar24 data. It said the US warned its citizens against using the airport and Japan's embassy advised against airport use or entering the surrounding area. The airport asked travellers to check flight status directly with their airlines before setting out. [ 1 ]
Several outlets reported possible involvement by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement. Nippon TV's earlier article said the group had not issued a statement about this attack, although it had claimed repeated missile attacks on the airport during the week. That outlet's later headline reported that the coalition condemned the incident as Houthi terrorism. Its earlier article also relayed an AP account, citing officials, that a missile directly struck the building housing the domestic terminal. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 ]
Trump said on October 10 that US participation in Saudi attacks on the Houthis was possible and he would consider it, according to TBS, Tokyo Shimbun and Nippon TV. TBS and Tokyo Shimbun said the United States had so far been cautious about direct involvement. The reports place the airport attack amid fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen and earlier attacks on Saudi airports. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
Why it matters
The attack disrupted flights and prompted warnings to avoid the airport. It also raised the prospect of further military action as Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi movement exchange attacks.
Key facts
- Saudi authorities reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries in the attack. [ 1 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 10 ]
- Airport operations were temporarily suspended after the attack. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 8 ]
- Trump said on October 10 that US participation in Saudi attacks on the Houthis was possible and would be considered. [ 1 , 5 , 8 ]
- The airport urged travellers to contact their airlines before heading to the airport. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Responsibility for the attack is not independently established in the documents. Several reports describe possible Houthi involvement; Nippon TV's later headline says the coalition blamed the Houthis, while its earlier article says the group had issued no statement.