New attack on Riyadh airport kills one
A new attack on King Khalid International Airport killed one person and injured eleven on Sunday.
There is news on this story (Monday, 12 October 2026, 02:26): New attack also hits Dammam airport
Follow-up to: New attack on Riyadh airport claims twelve lives Sunday, 11 October 2026, 05:44
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A new attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed a Pakistani resident and injured eleven people on Sunday. The attack came a day after an earlier attack on the same airport killed twelve people.
The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that the new attack took place on Sunday afternoon and that the injured had been taken to hospitals. Airport infrastructure was also damaged. No further independent details have been released about the precise nature of the projectile or the extent of the damage.
This article follows the earlier attack in which, according to Saudi authorities, twelve people were killed and 309 injured. The airport was temporarily closed at the time. According to The Associated Press, the passenger terminal for domestic flights was hit again, one day after the deadly attack.
Responsibility for the attacks has not been independently established. The Saudi-led coalition says the Houthis in Yemen are behind the attacks. According to The Associated Press, the Houthis have claimed responsibility, but have provided no public evidence.
The Associated Press writes that the airport had already been closed since Saturday’s attack. According to the news agency, the complex has been hit four times in five days. This has made the airport an important symbol and practical target in the rapidly escalating conflict around Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
The series of attacks increases pressure on Riyadh to seek military and diplomatic support from allies. The Saudi authorities have not announced when air traffic will fully resume. That decision depends on the security assessment of the terminals and surrounding infrastructure.
The developments could also affect regional aviation. Riyadh is an important hub for domestic flights and international connections. A prolonged closure could divert passenger flows and increase pressure on other airports in the region, but the scale of any such effects is not yet clear.
According to The Associated Press, US President Donald Trump has said that he is considering US participation in Saudi attacks on the Houthis. That is not a decision to become militarily involved. As far as the sources consulted indicate, the White House has not announced any concrete new operation.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- King Khalid International Airport was attacked again on 11 October 2026.
- According to the Saudi civil aviation authority, one Pakistani resident was killed and eleven people were injured.
- A day earlier, according to Saudi authorities, twelve people were killed and 309 injured.
- According to AP, the Houthis claimed responsibility; the coalition accuses them, but independent confirmation is lacking.
- According to AP, the US president said that he is considering US participation in Saudi attacks.
Left
Arguments A left-wing approach emphasises that further military escalation increases the risk to civilians and regional stability. It would press for diplomacy, protection of civil aviation and restraint over US participation while responsibility for and the proportionality of new attacks remain unclear.
Values International law, protection of civilians, de-escalation and restraint in the use of military force.
Consequences From this perspective, more air strikes could lead to more casualties, retaliation and a broader regional war, while military pressure would not resolve the underlying political problems.
Centre
Arguments The institutional approach focuses on verification, protection of critical infrastructure and consultation with allies. It supports measures to secure the airport and travellers, but wants to establish first who is responsible and what mandate exists for further military action.
Values Evidence-based assessment, proportionality, security and diplomatic coordination.
Consequences A controlled response could deter further attacks without immediately triggering a larger war, but too little action could make future attacks more attractive.
Right
Arguments A right-wing approach emphasises Saudi Arabia’s right to defend its population and vital infrastructure. From this perspective, attackers and their supporters must be clearly deterred, and US military support may be necessary to preserve the credibility of that deterrence.
Values National security, deterrence, protection of allies and perpetrators’ accountability.
Consequences A forceful response could prevent repeated attacks, but also increases the risk of retaliation by the Houthis and of direct US involvement in a broader conflict.
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 core facts are based on an official Saudi statement and an independent report by The Associated Press. Responsibility for the attack and possible US involvement are attributed as claims and are not presented as established facts.
- confirmed The new attack on King Khalid International Airport took place on Sunday 11 October 2026. — The Saudi civil aviation authority names Sunday 11 October; AP also describes the attack as taking place on Sunday. source
- confirmed One Pakistani resident was killed and eleven people were injured in the new attack. — This appears in the supplementary statement by the Saudi civil aviation authority. source
- confirmed Twelve people were killed and 309 injured in the earlier attack. — The Saudi authority cites twelve deaths and 309 injuries; AP confirms twelve deaths and more than three hundred injuries. source
- confirmed A projectile hit a passenger terminal at the airport again. — The Associated Press reports that a projectile hit a passenger terminal. source
- confirmed The airport had been closed since Saturday’s attack. — This is reported by The Associated Press. source
- confirmed The airport was hit four times in five days. — This count appears in the AP report; the source attributes it to the reported attacks on the airport complex. source
- confirmed The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks without providing public evidence. — The Associated Press describes both the claim and the absence of evidence. source
- confirmed Donald Trump is considering US participation in Saudi attacks on the Houthis. — AP reports that Trump said he was considering this; the article does not present it as a decision already taken. source
Editor's note
The new death, eleven injuries and material damage according to the Saudi civil aviation authority, as well as the new strike and the earlier attack according to AP, are certain. The coalition and the Houthis attribute responsibility to each other, but it has not been independently established.Sources
- Saudi airport passenger terminal is struck again, a day after 12 were killed — The Associated Press
- Death of Pakistani resident and injury of 11 others in attack on King Khalid International Airport — Sabq
- Civil Aviation: 12 Dead and 309 Injured in the Heinous Attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh — Sabq
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 (this article)
- Monday, 12 October 2026, 02:26 New attack also hits Dammam airport
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „saudi-arabië riyad”
- Trouw — „saudi-arabië riyad”
- NRC — „saudi-arabië riyad”