Houthi strike on Riyadh Airport kills 12, injures 309 as Saudi Arabia vows retaliation

A missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed 12 people and injured 309 others, prompting the Saudi-led coalition to threaten a decisive response against Yemen’s Ansar Allah rebels (popularly called the Houthis) amid escalating regional tensions.

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Al Jazeera reports that the Sunday attack was the deadliest on Saudi soil in more than a decade. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Iran-backed Houthis for the attack, describing it as a “full-fledged war crime” because of the deaths and injuries among civilian passengers and airport personnel.

The strike comes amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia. The escalation has heightened concerns about a wider regional conflict, particularly after US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington could consider joining military action against the group.

Passengers flee as airport is hit

Witnesses described scenes of panic at the airport following the strike, with passengers running for safety as people were injured.

One passenger told AFP that they were at Gate 403 when the adjacent Gate 401 area was hit.

“I saw 401 hit, I saw injured in front of my eyes. Everyone was running,” the witness said.

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Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said the fatalities included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

Airport operations were suspended following the incident, while authorities began assessing the damage.

The scale of the casualties also prompted health officials to mobilise additional medical personnel to respond to what a medical source described as a serious emergency.

Two doctors told AFP that some of the injured were pilgrims travelling to Mecca.

Houthis warn airlines against using Saudi airports

Following the attack, the Houthis renewed their warning to airlines, airport workers and travellers against using Saudi airports.

The group urged those concerned to take its warning seriously and said Saudi Arabia bore responsibility for what it described as failed interception efforts.

The warning signals the possibility of further attacks on Saudi aviation infrastructure as hostilities intensify between the group and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces.

The renewed violence follows the breakdown of a United Nations-brokered truce that had helped keep large-scale fighting largely contained since 2022.

The latest developments threaten to undermine diplomatic efforts to end Yemen’s prolonged conflict, which has caused widespread displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia faces pressure to retaliate

The Saudi-led coalition has vowed a decisive response to the airport attack, raising the prospect of further military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.

Dania Thafer, executive director of the Gulf International Forum, said Saudi Arabia would likely respond forcefully but suggested that Riyadh would prefer to avoid a prolonged escalation.

She said the Houthis’ actions posed challenges not only to Saudi national security but also to international maritime security.

The conflict, she argued, had expanded beyond a series of retaliatory attacks, with implications for regional stability and international shipping.

Saudi Arabia has previously led a military coalition against the Houthis, intervening in Yemen’s civil war in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government.

Trump considers possible US military involvement

The attack has also raised questions about the extent of possible US involvement in the conflict.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Washington was considering whether to join military action against the Houthis.

“We may. We’re going to look at it,” he told reporters.

The US president also said he intended to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, describing the airport attack as “not acceptable”.

According to media reports cited in the coverage, the United States has provided intelligence-sharing, target-identification and planning assistance for the latest Saudi-backed offensive.

Washington previously supported the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen with intelligence, logistical assistance and weapons, although it did not directly participate in the coalition’s air strikes during the initial intervention.

In 2021, however, the administration of former US President Joe Biden ended support for the Saudi-led offensive, citing the devastating humanitarian consequences of the war.

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Yemen conflict threatens wider regional stability

The airport strike underscores the risk that renewed fighting in Yemen could develop into a broader confrontation involving regional and international powers.

The Houthis have maintained their opposition to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and have repeatedly threatened targets they consider linked to their adversaries.

Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, faces pressure to protect its territory and critical infrastructure while avoiding a return to a prolonged military campaign.

With Washington considering its next steps and the Saudi-led coalition threatening retaliation, the latest attack could further complicate efforts to restore a lasting ceasefire and secure a political settlement to Yemen’s conflict.

The escalation also raises concerns about the security of civilian aviation and international maritime routes, both of which could be affected if the hostilities spread beyond Yemen’s borders.