Riyadh, October 11 — A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital this weekend has resulted in casualties from at least eight nationalities, according to multiple reports. The attack, part of a series of Houthi strikes on Saudi airports between October 6 and October 11 (as per the SOURCE), targeted the capital’s main international airport. Among the fatalities were three Saudi nationals, including a state airline pilot, as confirmed by Al Jazeera and China Daily HK (SOURCES).
Two Bangladeshi citizens were killed, as were two Sudanese nationals—one in an October 7 strike and another in the October 10 attack (SOURCES). One U.S. citizen, one Egyptian citizen (identified as a flight attendant for Flynas airline), one Jordanian, one Syrian, one Palestinian, one Moroccan (killed in the Abha airport attack), and one Algerian (also killed in the Abha attack) were among the dead (SOURCES).
Injuries exceeded 340 across the attacks, with Saudi authorities confirming that the wounded included various nationalities (SOURCE). At least 10 Indian nationals were confirmed injured in the October 10 Riyadh airport strike, according to The Hindu and BBC (SOURCES). Numerous Saudi citizens were also among the injured (SOURCE).
Saudi Arabia has vowed retaliation against the Houthis following the attack, which marks a significant escalation in the Yemen conflict (as per the SOURCE). Houthi forces have been using missiles and drones to target civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia (as per the SOURCE).
In response, Saudi Arabia extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport and moved Riyadh schools online due to ongoing attack threats, as reported by NBC4 WCMH-TV and CW39 Houston (SOURCE). Egypt condemned the attacks as ‘irresponsible’ after several of its nationals were injured, per Egypt Today (SOURCE). The Houthi-run health ministry in Yemen claimed that 91 Yemenis were killed by retaliatory Saudi-led coalition airstrikes during the broader military escalation, according to NPR (SOURCE).
Background
The Yemen conflict, which began in 2015, has been marked by a series of Saudi-led airstrikes against Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen (as per the SOURCE). The conflict has resulted in widespread civilian casualties and a humanitarian crisis in Yemen (as per the SOURCE). The escalation in the Yemen conflict raises concerns about further violence and civilian casualties (as per the SOURCE).
The Saudi-led coalition has pledged to continue its military operations against the Houthis, while the Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks on Saudi Arabia (as per the SOURCE). The international community, particularly the United States, is expected to weigh in on the situation (as per the SOURCE).
The US administration, led by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been a key ally of Saudi Arabia in the conflict (as per the SOURCE). The US has provided military support to the Saudi-led coalition, and the administration has been criticized by human rights groups for its role in the conflict (as per the SOURCE).
