A projectile struck a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, Oct. 11, according to the Saudi-led coalition. The strike targeted Terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights, and occurred while the airport remained closed following a missile attack on Saturday, Oct. 10. The Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for both strikes, as well as an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and oil and gas facilities in eastern Saudi Arabia.
The Saturday missile strike killed 12 people according to a Saudi statement, though the Indian embassy reported an additional death on Sunday, bringing the total to 13. The fatalities included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Jordan, India, and Palestine. More than 300 others were wounded. In response to the escalation, the Saudi-led coalition has provided air support for Yemeni government forces, while the Houthi-run health ministry reported that a suspected Saudi airstrike on Sunday hit a home in Sanaa, killing one child.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud addressed an international energy conference in Riyadh on Sunday, stating that the kingdom is working on additional pipelines. The airport strikes have prompted several international airlines to suspend flights. The Houthis have warned travelers and airline employees to avoid Saudi airports and airspace, though they stated that airports in Mecca and Medina are exempt.
The attacks target the infrastructure of the world’s largest oil exporter during an international energy summit. The conflict also threatens commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a waterway critical for global trade and an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudi government is seeking air defense support from Britain, France, Pakistan, and Egypt as its supply of missile interceptors decreases.
U.S. involvement remains a point of focus, as President Donald Trump stated he is considering joining the fight against the Houthis, though no formal action was confirmed on Sunday. Regional analysts from the International Crisis Group suggest that rather than forcing a de-escalation, the targeting of critical infrastructure may result in a more determined military campaign by the Saudi-led coalition. Future developments depend on whether diplomatic dialogue, mentioned by the Iranian foreign minister, can be established between Saudi and Houthi officials to restore the calm that followed a 2022 ceasefire which ended in July.