A deadly strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured hundreds on Sunday, October 11, marking the deadliest attack on Saudi soil in over a decade. The Saudi-led coalition accused Yemen's Houthis of launching the assault, describing it as a "full-fledged war crime." The attack came amid an escalating wave of Houthi strikes since a truce between the group and Yemen's Saudi-backed government collapsed in July.
The coalition spokesman, Major General Turki al-Malki, condemned the strike as a "cowardly terrorist attack" against a civilian facility. The attack prompted the suspension of airport operations and a rare mass call-up of doctors to handle the "serious emergency situation." Among the wounded were several pilgrims headed to Mecca. Foreign embassies, including those of the US, Canada, Germany, and Spain, warned their citizens to avoid the airport.
The Houthis had previously claimed responsibility for strikes targeting the airport earlier in the week, though they did not immediately take responsibility for the latest attack. The escalating violence has raised concerns about a wider regional conflict, with US President Donald Trump indicating that Washington might join military action against the Houthis. The attack occurred on the eve of Saudi Arabia's high-profile convention and entertainment season.
Yemen's civil war has seen renewed fighting since the truce collapsed, with Saudi-supported government forces advancing against the Houthis in strategic areas like the Bab al-Mandab strait. Analyst Anna Jacob of the Arab Gulf States Institute warned that the recent attacks could lead to further escalation, stating, "One thing is for sure, we are moving up the escalation ladder in a very dangerous way."