Riyadh, 11 Oct 2026 (Anadolu News)

Twelve people were killed and 309 others injured in a Saturday attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to the country’s civil aviation authority.

The authority reported that the victims included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshi nationals, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment, with some reported to be in critical condition.

The attack also caused damage to airport property, which authorities said was still being assessed.

Following the incident, airport operations were temporarily suspended as officials examined the damage and carried out safety checks to ensure the airport’s facilities were secure. The suspension disrupted flight schedules, prompting passengers to check with their airlines before travelling to the airport. Kuwait Airways also cancelled its Saturday flights to Riyadh and the corresponding return services, citing the airport’s closure.

The incident occurred amid rising regional tensions following a series of missile and drone attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group targeting Saudi airports and other facilities in recent days.

On early Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition operating in Yemen vowed to respond firmly to the attack. Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki accused the Houthis of carrying out the strike, stating that it targeted one of the airport’s passenger terminals and affected both travellers and airport workers.

Al-Maliki described the attack as a war crime under international humanitarian law and customary international rules. He added that the coalition’s Joint Forces Command would respond firmly while adhering to international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, Saudi aviation authorities continued to assess the damage and review safety measures following the incident, as the disruption to airport operations affected passengers and flight services.