New attack on Riyadh airport claims twelve lives
Third attack on King Khalid International Airport this week leaves 309 injured, according to Saudi authorities.
Follow-up to: Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport kill three Friday, 9 October 2026, 13:42
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A new attack on Riyadh's international airport has killed twelve people and injured 309, according to the Saudi civil aviation authority. The airport temporarily suspended operations while the damage and security situation were assessed.
The attack struck King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital on Saturday. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that four Saudi citizens were among the dead, alongside two people from Bangladesh and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. According to the authority, the injured are being treated in several hospitals; some are in critical condition.
The airport temporarily halted air traffic. The authorities said that material damage was still being assessed and that the suspension allowed time for security checks and emergency assistance. The precise impact on departing and arriving flights was not yet fully clear in the reports available.
Responsibility for the new attack has not been independently established. According to AP, Saudi and coalition officials accused the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, but the movement had not, according to the news agency, immediately issued a statement claiming responsibility for this attack. The Houthis had claimed attacks on Saudi airports earlier this week.
This makes it the third attack on Riyadh airport in a short period. According to Saudi authorities, three people, including a pilot, were killed in earlier attacks on Thursday. Airports in other Saudi cities were also targeted in attacks earlier this week, AP reported.
The new attack comes amid a broader escalation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, who control parts of Yemen. Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's internationally recognised government, while the Houthis oppose Saudi military operations and support for their opponents. Both sides present their attacks as responses to actions by the other party.
For travellers, the temporary closure is the main concern. Airlines may divert, cancel or delay flights for as long as the airport authorities have not declared the airport safe. How long the interruption will last and whether foreign travellers are among the victims had not been fully established when this article appeared.
The attack increases pressure on Saudi Arabia to reassess the security of civil aviation and its military response to the Houthis. At the same time, it remains unclear which party was precisely responsible for the latest strike; that uncertainty is relevant before conclusions are drawn about further retaliation or possible international involvement.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- A new attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed twelve people and injured 309, according to the Saudi aviation authority.
- The airport was temporarily closed for security checks and damage assessment.
- Saudi Arabia and coalition officials accused the Houthis, but an immediate Houthi claim for this specific attack had not been independently confirmed.
- According to Saudi authorities, three people were killed in earlier attacks on Saudi airports.
Left
Arguments The priority should be protecting civilians and preventing further escalation. Military retaliation without an independent investigation could cause new casualties and deepen the conflict; diplomatic pressure and compliance with international humanitarian law should come first.
Values Civilian protection, international law, restraint in the use of military force and responsibility for the consequences of regional interventions.
Consequences A broad retaliatory action could lead to more attacks on civilian targets, disruption to aviation and a greater humanitarian crisis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
Centre
Arguments The airport must be demonstrably declared safe and the circumstances carefully established before a response is made. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has the right to protect its population and vital infrastructure, within clear legal boundaries.
Values Factual verification, proportionality, institutional responsibility and de-escalation.
Consequences A limited and evidence-based response could provide deterrence without making the escalation unmanageable; uncertainty about the perpetrator makes that policy more difficult.
Right
Arguments Attacks on a civilian airport require credible deterrence. From this perspective, Saudi Arabia and its allies must show that missile and drone attacks will not go unanswered, while the airport and other critical infrastructure are better secured.
Values National security, civilian protection, sovereignty and deterrence of armed groups.
Consequences A forceful response could discourage future attacks, but it also increases the risk of a wider war if the Houthis or their allies retaliate.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key figures and temporary closure have been confirmed by Saudi aviation authorities and multiple public news sources. The text explicitly keeps responsibility for the attack uncertain and distinguishes the new attack from earlier Houthi claims.
- confirmed The attack killed twelve people and injured 309. — Reported by Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation and carried by NOS, AP and Al Jazeera. source
- confirmed The attack struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. — Mentioned in reports by NOS, AP and the Saudi aviation authority. source
- confirmed The airport temporarily suspended operations. — NOS reports that air traffic was halted; public reporting refers to a temporary suspension. source
- confirmed Four Saudi citizens and people from eight other countries or territories were among the dead. — The nationalities are listed in the statement by the Saudi aviation authority as reproduced by AP and Al Jazeera. source
- confirmed Responsibility for this attack has not been independently established. — AP reported that there was no immediate statement from the Houthis; the text attributes the accusation to Saudi and coalition officials. source
- confirmed Three people were killed in earlier attacks on Thursday. — This appears in earlier NOS reporting on the attacks on Riyadh airport. source
Editor's note
The death toll, number of injured and temporary suspension of airport operations were reported by Saudi aviation authorities and independently reported by AP and other public media. The circumstances and responsibility for this specific attack have not yet been independently established; earlier Houthi claims are known.Sources
The story so far
- Friday, 9 October 2026, 13:42 Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport kill three
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 05:43 Saudi Arabia launches offensive against Houthis
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 18:48 Riyadh Airport attacked again, flights cancelled
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 23:45 More wounded in attack on Riyadh airport
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 05:44 New attack on Riyadh airport claims twelve lives (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
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- RTL Nieuws — „riyad saudi-arabië”