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A missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed 12 people and injured 309 others, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to threaten a decisive response against Yemen’s Ansar Allah rebels (popularly called the Houthis) amid escalating regional tensions.
Al Jazeera reports that the Sunday attack was the deadliest on Saudi soil in more than a decade. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Iran-backed Houthis for the attack, describing it as a “full-fledged war crime” because of the deaths and injuries among civilian passengers and airport personnel.
The strike comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia.
The escalation has heightened concerns about a wider regional conflict, particularly after US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington could consider joining military action against the group.
Witnesses described scenes of panic at the airport following the strike, with passengers running for safety as people were injured.
One passenger told AFP that they were at Gate 403 when the adjacent Gate 401 area 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 said the fatalities included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Airport operations were suspended following the incident, while authorities began assessing the damage. AFP
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