Umrah pilgrims were among passengers caught in back-to-back Houthi missile and drone attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 10 and 11, 2026. The attacks resulted in at least 14 fatalities and over 320 injuries. The first strike killed 13 people and injured 309, while the second killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others. Footage showed smoke and fire around the airport as passengers sought safety.
The presence of pilgrims in ihram highlighted the impact of the attacks on civilians travelling for religious purposes. Saudi authorities reported that victims of Saturday's attack included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and nationals of the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. The second strike hit the airport's domestic terminal complex, killing one person and injuring 11 others. The attacks disrupted air travel, prompting Saudi authorities to extend the suspension of airport operations.
The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government condemned the attacks on civilian aviation facilities. Major-General Turki Al-Malki, the coalition's spokesperson, described the Saturday strike as a "fully fledged war crime" and vowed a decisive response in accordance with international humanitarian law. The Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation extended the airport shutdown to allow safety inspections and assessments of the damage.
Reuters reported that 82 per cent of scheduled flights at the airport had been cancelled as of midday GMT on Monday, while cancellations across Saudi airports reached 46.4 per cent, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The Associated Press reported that preliminary findings suggested the Houthis used drones before launching cruise and ballistic missiles towards Riyadh. Investigators were examining why the kingdom's air-defence systems failed to intercept the projectiles.
Yemen's Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attacks, presenting them as retaliation for Saudi-led military operations in Yemen and restrictions affecting areas under its control. Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier-General Yahya Saree warned airlines and travellers against using Saudi airspace. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and Saudi energy infrastructure.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, including the strike that killed an American citizen. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, and Türkiye also condemned the attacks, describing them as a threat to regional security and a violation of international law. The four countries called for an immediate and unconditional halt to the attacks and reaffirmed their support for Saudi Arabia's security and territorial integrity.
The attacks came amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces aligned with Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. The conflict also threatens security around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic shipping route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The renewed Yemen conflict fuels regional tensions, raising concerns about the potential impact on civilian aviation, energy infrastructure, and international trade.
Key points
- The Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport resulted in at least 14 fatalities and over 320 injuries.
- The attacks disrupted air travel, prompting Saudi authorities to extend the suspension of airport operations.
- The conflict threatens security around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic shipping route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
