Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport was attacked on October 10, resulting in at least 12 deaths and 309 injuries, according to Saudi authorities.
This incident marks the deadliest attack in the Gulf Arab states since the onset of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran in February. Among the deceased is an American citizen, prompting President Donald Trump to suggest the possibility of U.S. intervention in response to the Houthi strikes.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported that the fatalities included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one individual each from the U.S., Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.
The Saudi-led coalition has blamed the Houthi rebels for the attack. A senior Houthi official, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, claimed responsibility, stating that the assault was a retaliation for airstrikes targeting civilian infrastructure in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition.
Recently, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities, with King Khalid International Airport reportedly facing at least three assaults this week. Sources indicate that the latest attack occurred without prior warning, and no alerts were issued by Saudi threat detection systems.
In response to the attack, GACA temporarily suspended airport operations to assess damage and safety. Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 noted that flights to Riyadh were diverted or canceled, with airlines such as Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways halting operations to the city, some of which are expected to remain suspended until October 12.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, along with other Western embassies, has advised citizens to avoid the airport vicinity and warned of potential traffic disruptions.
This attack poses a challenge to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's vision of establishing Riyadh as a global aviation and business hub. The World Petroleum Congress (WPC) is set to take place in Riyadh starting October 11, followed by the Future Investment Initiative (FII) later this month, which will attract world leaders and business executives.
Concerns are growing regarding Saudi Arabia's aviation security and air defense capabilities in light of the repeated Houthi airport attacks, raising the prospect of U.S. military involvement.
On October 10, President Trump acknowledged the possibility of U.S. participation in response to the Houthi strikes, stating, "That could happen. We will look into it." He added, "I just learned about the recent attacks, and I will make a decision quickly."
Last month, Saudi Arabia requested action against the Houthi rebels from President Trump, but the U.S. indicated it had no plans to engage in the conflict at that time.
Public sentiment in the U.S. remains largely against a war with Iran. A recent AP-NORC poll found that 69% of Americans believe a war with Iran is not worth fighting.
On October 8, President Trump stated he would not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. However, he did not rule out military action against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Yemen civil war began in 2014 when Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, prompting Saudi Arabia to intervene militarily the following year to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government. A UN-brokered ceasefire was established in 2022, but regional tensions have escalated this year due to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, reigniting the civil war. Following the Houthis' territorial gains along the Red Sea coast last month, the Saudi-led coalition and Yemeni government forces launched military operations to repel the rebels and reclaim territory.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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