Several individuals sustained injuries in an assault on King Khalid International Airport in the capital city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, leading to a temporary halt in operations, as confirmed by the country’s civil aviation authority. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but it coincides with an increase in missile strikes by Yemen’s Houthis, who are linked to Iran, against Saudi Arabia. This incident marks the third attack on the airport this week, resulting in four fatalities, multiple injuries, and significant damage to an aircraft.
Despite the attack, Saudi Arabia’s early warning system did not issue any alert prior to the assault on Saturday. The Saudi government’s media office did not provide an immediate response to inquiries from Reuters. Witnesses at the scene reported witnessing an explosion followed by several injured individuals on the airport grounds, with numerous ambulances swiftly responding to the situation. A traveler who was injured stated to Reuters that they observed an object flying across the sky outside the airport before a section of the ceiling near a departure gate collapsed.
In response to the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing reporters outside the White House, was questioned about potential U.S. involvement in Saudi strikes against the Houthis. Trump mentioned that a decision would be made swiftly upon learning about the recent attack. The U.S. embassy in Riyadh advised all American citizens to steer clear of the airport and its vicinity due to the ongoing security concerns. Additionally, the U.K. and Irish embassies in Saudi Arabia acknowledged a “serious incident” at the airport, while the Canadian Embassy cautioned Canadians to avoid traveling to King Khalid International Airport.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 displayed the redirection or cancellation of all flights bound for Riyadh, with only a helicopter visible above the airport at one point. Kuwait Airways announced the cancellation of flights to and from Riyadh due to the airport’s closure following the security situation. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also canceled several flights between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into the following Monday.
The ongoing attacks by the Houthis have prompted various airlines to suspend or cancel services to the Saudi capital. Despite these challenges, major energy and investment conferences scheduled to take place in Riyadh are set to proceed as planned. The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a military operations zone after a recent offensive by the Saudi-backed Yemeni government against the group.
