On Sunday, October 11, 2026, a strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, resulted in at least one fatality and 11 injuries. This incident followed a similar attack on Saturday that killed 12 individuals and injured hundreds. The General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the death of a Pakistani national in the Sunday attack.
A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, which is engaged in military operations against Houthi rebels from Yemen, reported that a cruise missile was intercepted near the airport. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, stating they conducted multiple operations using ballistic and cruise missiles and drones targeting Riyadh and Dammam airports, as well as facilities belonging to the Saudi state oil company, Aramco.
The Houthi group had previously warned airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi airports, describing them as vulnerable to attacks. They stated, "We renew our warning to all airlines, experts, employees, workers, and travelers against using Saudi airports and airspace, as they are vulnerable to attack and have become a theater of operations for our forces."
Saudi Arabia has increased its military involvement in Yemen, launching strikes against the Houthis following their seizure of strategic territory along the Red Sea coast. The Houthi-run health authority reported that 91 Yemenis have been killed by the Saudi-led coalition in the past five weeks, with a significant percentage being women and children.
The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV reported that Saudi Arabia had also struck the international airport in Sanaa on the same day. The Houthi Foreign Ministry warned that unless Saudi Arabia ceases its military actions in Yemen, further escalations are expected.
In response to the attacks, the Saudi-led coalition condemned the strikes as a "full-fledged war crime" and pledged a strong response. The recent surge in Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia coincides with a major military offensive by the coalition against the rebels.
US President Donald Trump stated he would speak with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the attacks, which he deemed "not acceptable," and mentioned the possibility of US involvement in strikes against the Houthis. European leaders expressed their condemnation of the attacks, with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, emphasizing the destabilizing impact of such actions on global transport and energy nodes. Other leaders from Germany, the UK, and France also condemned the attacks, calling them acts of terrorism and expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia. Russia called for an end to hostilities through political means, while Australia advised its citizens in Riyadh to shelter in place amid the escalating situation.