New attack also hits Dammam airport
After a new strike in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia also confirms an attack on Dammam airport.
Follow-up to: New attack on Riyadh airport kills one Monday, 12 October 2026, 01:26
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A projectile struck a passenger terminal at Riyadh airport again on Sunday. Saudi Arabia reported injuries and later also confirmed an attack on Dammam airport, while the Houthis claimed responsibility for both attacks.
The new strike took place at Terminal 4 of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, according to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. According to the Saudi aviation authority, people were injured and a fire broke out; the extent of the damage is still being assessed. The airport had already been closed after Saturday's deadly attack.
King Fahd International Airport near Dammam, in eastern Saudi Arabia, was also hit on Sunday. The Saudi aviation authority confirmed that security inspections and a damage assessment had begun there. According to Reuters, occupants of a taxiing aircraft saw a projectile strike next to parked aircraft. The plane returned to the gate and passengers had to disembark.
The Houthi movement from Yemen says it was responsible for the attacks. Military spokesman Yahya Saree additionally claimed that the group had attacked two facilities belonging to oil company Saudi Aramco. That latter claim has not been independently confirmed; Saudi Arabia and Aramco have so far provided no further information about it.
The attack on Riyadh came a day after an earlier strike in which Saudi Arabia initially reported twelve deaths and more than three hundred injuries. The Indian embassy said on Sunday that an injured Indian national had died of his injuries, bringing the reported death toll to thirteen. The figures come from different authorities and have not yet been fully independently verified.
The new attacks are disrupting air traffic across a large part of the kingdom. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 recorded delays and cancellations at Dammam airport on Sunday. The British embassy advised citizens to limit travel to Saudi airports, except Medina airport, to what is necessary. The US aviation authorities also called on airlines to exercise extra caution.
The attacks follow a Saudi military campaign against the Houthis and an offensive by Yemeni government forces backed by Riyadh. The Houthis are warning airlines to avoid Saudi airports and say further attacks will follow as long as Saudi Arabia continues its military operations in Yemen.
According to President Donald Trump, the United States is considering military support for Saudi Arabia, but no decision has been reported. Iran, which supports the Houthis politically and militarily, has offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It remains unclear how much damage the attacks in Dammam caused and whether air traffic there will fully resume.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- A projectile struck a terminal at Riyadh airport again on Sunday.
- Saudi Arabia reported injuries and later confirmed an attack on Dammam airport.
- The Houthis claimed responsibility.
- The attacks follow Saudi military operations against the Houthis in Yemen.
- According to Donald Trump, the United States is considering military support for Saudi Arabia.
Left
Arguments The attacks must be seen within the broader war in Yemen. Whoever attacks civilian targets is responsible, but the Saudi military campaign and foreign support for that campaign are also increasing the risk of further escalation.
Values Protection of civilians, international law, restraint in military intervention and diplomacy.
Consequences American participation could widen the war, expose more civilians to danger and deepen the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Centre
Arguments The first priority is protecting civil aviation and ensuring a controlled response. Saudi Arabia has the right to self-defence, but further military steps must be accompanied by verification, parliamentary oversight and diplomatic efforts.
Values Security, proportionality, international cooperation and institutional responsibility.
Consequences Limited defensive support could help repel attacks, but broader intervention could unintentionally trigger a regional conflict.
Right
Arguments Attacks on airports are direct attacks on civilians and regional stability. Saudi Arabia and its allies must be given sufficient means to defend their territory and break the Houthis' capacity to carry out such attacks.
Values National security, deterrence, protection of allies and a firm red line against armed militias.
Consequences A restrained response could invite new attacks; at the same time, it must be acknowledged that military escalation could put American troops and trade routes at further risk.
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 article's core is confirmed by AP, Reuters and ORF. Houthi claims are attributed as claims, and unconfirmed details are explicitly marked as such.
- confirmed A passenger terminal at Riyadh airport was hit again on Sunday and people were injured. — Reported by Saudi authorities and Reuters; AP describes the same attack. source
- confirmed Saudi Arabia confirmed an attack on Dammam airport on Sunday. — The Saudi aviation authority confirmed this, according to Reuters and ORF. source
- confirmed The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks. — The claim was reported by Reuters and AP and attributed to the movement in the article. source
- confirmed According to Saudi Arabia, the earlier attack killed twelve people and injured more than three hundred; India later reported that an additional injured person had died. — The figures were reported separately by Reuters and AP. source
- confirmed British and American authorities issued warnings about travelling to or flying around Saudi airports. — Reuters mentions both warnings. source
- confirmed Iran offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. — ORF reports the offer based on a statement by Iran's foreign minister. source
Editor's note
The new attack in Riyadh and the confirmed attack in Dammam have been reported by several public sources. The Houthi claim about two Saudi Aramco facilities and the full extent of the damage have not been independently confirmed.Sources
- Saudi airport passenger terminal is struck again, a day after 12 were killed — Associated Press
- Saudi Arabia reports injuries in new attack at Riyadh airport, day after strike kills 13 — Reuters
- Nach Warnung von Huthis: Nächster Angriff auf Flughafen Riad — ORF
- Huthi-Angriff auf Flughafen Riad: Alptraum am Abflug-Gate — Tagesschau
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
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 12:46 Riyadh keeps airport closed after deadly attack
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 15:58 Report: child killed after Saudi strike on Sanaa
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 16:28 Trump considers US role in Saudi attacks
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 18:04 Projectile hits passenger terminal in Riyadh again
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 21:27 A projectile also lands near Dammam airport
- Sunday, 11 October 2026, 23:27 Fresh attacks on Saudi Arabia raise risk of regional war
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 01:26 New attack on Riyadh airport kills one
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 02:26 New attack also hits Dammam airport (this article)
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „saudi-arabië riyad”
- RTL Nieuws — „saudi-arabië riyad”
- NOS — „saudi-arabië riyad”