Twelve people were killed and more than 300 others were injured after a missile strike hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The deadly attack prompted the suspension of operations at the Saudi capital’s main aviation hub as regional conflict escalates.
Twelve Killed at Riyadh Airport
Saturday’s strike on the passenger terminal complex was the deadliest in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war, bringing wounded victims to hospitals across Riyadh via ambulance.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that the deceased victims included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, one American, one Egyptian, one Jordanian, one Syrian, one Palestinian, and one Sudanese national. On the preceding Thursday, local officials reported that a separate attack at the facility killed three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, and damaged a commercial plane parked on the tarmac. More than 300 individuals suffered injuries, with several remaining in critical condition.
Flight-tracking platforms such as FlightAware and FlightRadar24 documented widespread disruptions, with hundreds of flights cancelled or diverted away from Riyadh.
Washington Weighs Military Response
In Washington, President Donald Trump told reporters that his administration was evaluating whether the United States should join Saudi military strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
“We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.”
Donald Trump, US President
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the violence on X, confirming the death of the American citizen in the strikes and demanding an immediate halt to the assaults.
“These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now.”
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State
Countries including the United States and Australia issued warnings instructing travelers and citizens to avoid the airport and its surrounding areas. Meanwhile, the Australian government advised citizens to reconsider all travel to Saudi Arabia, maintaining the country at level three on its Smartraveller warning system.
Truce Collapses as Missiles Strike Capital
The strike on Riyadh followed an unraveling of truce agreements in July between Yemen’s Houthi movement and the Riyadh-backed government. The conflict intensified after a Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive to reverse Houthi territorial gains near the Red Sea, including operations around the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Aidarous al-Zubaidi, president of the Southern Transitional Council, claimed that the island and coastal area had been recaptured from Houthi hands, though an official military spokesperson for the UN-recognised government forces qualified the statement by saying only half the area had been retaken. The Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree asserted that armed forces targeted King Khalid Airport with a ballistic missile that hit its target, while earlier warning airlines and aviation workers to steer clear of Saudi airspace.
Meanwhile, the Saudi education ministry announced that schools in Riyadh would move to remote learning for a week following the deadly assault.
Governments Issue Travel Warnings
- Australia’s Smartraveller updated its guidance, instructing citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Saudi Arabia and verify departure schedules with airlines.
- The United States embassy in Riyadh issued a notice strongly recommending that all US citizens avoid the airport and surrounding areas.
- Authorities in Saudi Arabia cautioned the public that filming, publishing, or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes individuals to legal liability.
Saudi coalition officials reported additional defensive actions late Saturday, noting that a projectile landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and a ballistic missile was intercepted southeast of the capital.
Whether the United States will join Saudi military strikes against the Houthi rebels remains unanswered.