Missile strike kills 12 at Riyadh airport as Houthi attacks escalate

A missile tore through the domestic terminal complex at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, killing at least a dozen people and wounding fifty more. The strike hit the section housing terminals 3 and 4, forcing the airport to suspend all operations and triggering a cascade of flight cancellations across the region. Ambulances rushed to the scene as authorities dimmed lights around the complex and sealed all entrances with a heavy police presence. The suspension was set to last through midnight, though the damage assessment was still underway.

The attack came just days after three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, were killed in earlier strikes, marking an escalation in what has become an extraordinary wave of assaults on the kingdom. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels, operating from Yemen, have claimed responsibility for this week's coordinated strikes on airports, military facilities, and oil infrastructure across Saudi Arabia. The timing is no accident: the attacks intensified following a major military offensive launched by a Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis, who have made recent territorial gains along the Red Sea that have improved their ability to monitor shipping in a critical corridor.

President Donald Trump told reporters he was weighing whether the United States should join Saudi Arabia in strikes against the Houthis. "We may. We're going to look at it," he said, adding that the administration would move quickly once a decision was made. The U.S. has already provided intelligence sharing, target identification, and planning support for the latest offensive. Meanwhile, multiple countries—including Britain, Germany, Australia, and Canada—issued warnings urging their citizens to avoid the airport entirely.

The disruption to aviation has been severe. At least 225 flights were canceled in the 24 hours following the strike, according to flight-tracking data. Major carriers including Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa, and Pakistan International Airlines suspended service to Riyadh and other Saudi airports for varying periods. The Houthis had warned global airlines earlier in the week about operating in Saudi airspace, which they described as a theater for military operations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance on the region, noting that the rebels have demonstrated the ability to strike targets deep inside the kingdom and warning that the combination of missile fire, drone attacks, and interception efforts creates a heightened risk of civil aircraft being misidentified.

Saudi Arabia's air defenses are under strain. Regional officials told the Associated Press last month that the kingdom has run low on missile interceptors and has requested air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt. The U.S. stock of interceptors has also been depleted during its own conflict with Iran. Despite the security crisis, Saudi authorities pressed ahead with plans for a major international energy conference scheduled to begin in Riyadh on Sunday, even as the world's top oil exporter grappled with the fallout from the attack.

The broader context reveals a conflict with multiple layers. The Houthis have told media outlets they are targeting Saudi shipping as part of a blockade in retaliation for one imposed on them, though concerns persist about wider attacks. The rebels previously struck other vessels after the war in Gaza began, framing it as solidarity with Palestinians—a campaign that was sharply curtailed by a U.S. bombing effort. Saudi and Omani foreign ministers spoke by phone Saturday about the importance of pursuing diplomatic solutions to de-escalate regional tensions, with Oman, positioned across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, playing a traditional mediator role.

On Thursday, Houthi attacks had already damaged three planes at the Riyadh airport, according to regional officials. One Saudi national carrier aircraft was struck while on the ground with no passengers aboard. The Saudi government has moved to control information about the attacks, warning the public this week that filming, publishing, or sharing information related to missile and drone interception efforts and their impact sites could expose people to legal liability. The airport remained closed Saturday evening, with flights diverted to other destinations as the kingdom absorbed the immediate consequences of the strike and braced for what might come next.