One person was killed and 11 others were injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, October 11, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). The incident occurred a day after another strike on the airport killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, prompting authorities to suspend airport operations.
The victim of Sunday’s attack was identified as a Pakistani resident in Saudi Arabia. The injured were transferred to several hospitals for medical treatment, according to the civil aviation authority. Authorities began assessing the damage and conducting safety inspections following the latest incident.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi movement reported that an unidentified projectile struck a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, causing a fire. Saudi air defences also intercepted a cruise missile near the airport, according to the coalition.
A witness aboard an aircraft taxiing at the airport told Reuters that a projectile struck the tarmac near parked aircraft at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time. The aircraft returned to its gate, and passengers were instructed to disembark and leave the area.
The airport had already been closed following Saturday’s attack. The latest strike further complicated efforts to restore normal operations at one of Saudi Arabia’s major aviation hubs.
Saturday’s attack initially left 12 people dead and more than 300 injured. India’s embassy in Saudi Arabia subsequently reported that one of its citizens had died from injuries sustained in that attack, raising the reported death toll to 13.
The victims of Saturday’s strike included Saudi nationals and foreign residents from several countries, according to Saudi authorities. The incident was reported as one of the deadliest attacks on Saudi territory in more than a decade.
Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack and announced additional operations against Saudi targets. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said the movement had also targeted other locations, including an airport in Dammam and facilities belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco. Those additional claims were not immediately independently verified.
The Houthis also renewed warnings to airlines, airport employees and travellers against using Saudi airports. Saudi Arabia has supported Yemen’s internationally recognised government in its conflict with the Houthis, who control significant areas of Yemen.
The latest attacks came amid an intensification of fighting between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. Saudi Arabia has carried out military operations against the group in support of the Yemeni government, while the Houthis have threatened further attacks in response.
The escalation has raised concerns about the potential expansion of the conflict beyond Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The attacks caused significant disruption to air travel. King Khalid International Airport remained closed following Saturday’s strike, with authorities extending the suspension as safety assessments continued.
Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that 99.7 per cent of scheduled flights at Riyadh airport were cancelled on Sunday. Several international airlines also suspended or extended suspensions of services to the Saudi capital. The United States Federal Aviation Administration advised airlines to exercise caution when operating in Saudi airspace.
The closure affected travellers and airlines operating routes through Riyadh, while authorities continued to assess security risks and damage at the airport.
The attacks prompted condemnation from regional governments. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt jointly condemned the strikes, describing them as a dangerous escalation and reaffirming support for measures to protect Saudi security.
The incidents have also raised concerns about regional energy supplies and commercial shipping. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is an important route for international trade and energy shipments. Further escalation could increase risks to shipping and regional stability.
As of October 12, Saudi authorities were continuing damage assessments and safety inspections, while airport operations remained disrupted. The latest casualty figures and the circumstances surrounding the two attacks were reported by Saudi authorities and international news organisations.
