Missile attack on Riyadh Airport kills 12, injures 309 as Saudi Arabia plans response

A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has killed 12 people and injured 309 others. This prompted the Saudi-led coalition to threaten a strong response against Yemen’s Ansar Allah rebels, known as the Houthis, as tensions in the region rise.

Al Jazeera reports that the Sunday attack is the deadliest one in Saudi Arabia in over ten years. Some of the injured people are in critical condition.

The Saudi-led coalition accused the Iran-backed Houthis of carrying out the attack. They called it a 'full-fledged war crime' due to the deaths and injuries among civilians and airport staff.

This strike comes during renewed fighting between the Houthis and the forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which has Saudi Arabia's backing. The situation raises fears of a larger regional conflict, especially after US President Donald Trump mentioned that the US might consider military action against the Houthis.

Witnesses reported panic at the airport after the strike. Passengers were seen running for safety as injuries occurred.

One passenger told AFP that they were at Gate 403 when the nearby Gate 401 was hit.

'I saw 401 hit, I saw injured in front of my eyes. Everyone was running,' the witness said.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that the dead included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan.

Airport operations stopped after the incident, while authorities began to check the damage.

The high number of casualties led health officials to bring in more medical staff to handle what a medical source called a serious emergency.

Two doctors told AFP that some of the injured were pilgrims heading to Mecca.

After the attack, the Houthis repeated their warning to airlines, airport staff, and travelers against using Saudi airports.

The group urged everyone involved to take the warning seriously and said Saudi Arabia was responsible for what they called failed interception efforts.

This warning suggests the possibility of more attacks on Saudi aviation as tensions rise between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.

The renewed violence comes after a United Nations-brokered truce that had kept large-scale fighting mostly under control since 2022 fell apart.

These latest events threaten to disrupt the diplomatic efforts aimed at ending Yemen’s long-running conflict, which has caused mass displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.

The Saudi-led coalition has promised a strong response to the airport attack, which raises the chance of more military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.

Dania Thafer, executive director of the Gulf International Forum, said Saudi Arabia is likely to respond strongly but would prefer to avoid a long escalation.

She noted that the Houthis’ actions challenge not only Saudi national security but also international maritime safety.

The conflict has expanded beyond just retaliatory attacks, affecting regional stability and international shipping.

Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition against the Houthis since March 2015 to support Yemen’s recognized government.

This attack has also raised questions about the potential for US involvement in the conflict.

US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Washington is thinking about joining military action against the Houthis.

'We may. We’re going to look at it,' he told reporters.

The US president also mentioned that he plans to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, calling the airport attack 'not acceptable.'

Media reports say the United States has provided intelligence-sharing, target identification, and planning help for the latest Saudi-backed offensive.

The US had previously supported the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen with intelligence and logistical help, but did not directly take part in the coalition’s air strikes during the initial intervention.

In 2021, however, former US President Joe Biden’s administration stopped support for the Saudi-led offensive, citing the severe humanitarian impact of the war.

The airport strike highlights the risk that renewed fighting in Yemen could lead to wider conflicts involving regional and international players.

The Houthis continue to oppose the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and have repeatedly threatened targets they see as linked to their enemies.

Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, faces pressure to protect its land and critical infrastructure while trying to avoid a long military campaign.

With Washington weighing its next steps and the Saudi-led coalition planning retaliation, this recent attack could complicate efforts to establish a lasting ceasefire and achieve a political solution to Yemen’s conflict.

The rising tensions also raise worries about the safety of civilian aviation and international shipping routes, both of which could be affected if the fighting spreads beyond Yemen.