Saudi Arabia: 12 killed and 300 wounded in Houthi strike on Riyadh airport.

A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on Saturday, October 10, 2026, when Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a devastating ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, claiming the lives of at least 12 people and leaving 309 others wounded. This tragic incident represents the most severe attack on Saudi territory in over a decade, reflecting an alarming intensification of regional tensions. According to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the twelve lives lost included four Saudi citizens and eight foreign nationals whose families now grieve their loss: Saudi Arabia: 4 citizens, Bangladesh: 2 nationals, United States: 1 citizen, Egypt: 1 national, Jordan: 1 national, Syria: 1 national, Palestine: 1 national, and Sudan: 1 national. The 309 injured individuals were urgently transported to nearby hospitals, where many continue to receive critical care for their injuries. The airport's operations were necessarily halted, resulting in the disruption of approximately 260 flights through cancellations and diversions. Eyewitnesses described the frightening scene as smoke engulfed terminal gates while passengers evacuated to safety. Compounding the distress, the airport faced another strike on Sunday, October 11. In response to the crisis, schools throughout Riyadh have compassionately shifted to remote learning for the coming week. The U.S. Embassy, along with British, Canadian, and Irish diplomatic missions, have issued urgent advisories urging their citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas for their safety. This strike marked the third attack on the Riyadh airport within a single week, following earlier Houthi assaults on Thursday that tragically took three Saudi lives, including a commercial pilot. The Saudi-led military coalition has strongly condemned the strike as a "war crime" and pledged a decisive military response. The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed deep concern over the violence, while U.S. officials have indicated they are considering adjustments to their support for Saudi defensive efforts. In an unusual move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a public condemnation on Sunday of this deadly missile attack.Furthermore, Arab and regional nations issued strong condemnations regarding the Houthi missile and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks directed at Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, which precipitated civilian fatalities and the cessation of aviation operations.