RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A projectile struck a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, October 11, killing one Pakistani national and injuring 11 others, Saudi authorities said. The attack targeted the complex for terminals 3 and 4, which serves domestic flights.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility for the strike, one of four operations it said targeted the Riyadh airport since Saturday. The group stated the attacks were a response to Saudi military actions.
The Sunday strike followed a missile attack on the same airport on Saturday, October 10, that killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300 others. Saudi officials stated the deceased from Saturday's event included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese national. An Indian embassy official later reported that an Indian national also died from injuries sustained in the Saturday attack. The airport has remained closed since Saturday.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree stated the group also targeted the Shugadam gas facility and Tanajib oil refinery belonging to Saudi Aramco, as well as King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi's civil aviation authority confirmed a strike in Dammam. Meanwhile, the Houthis reported that the airport in the rebel-held Yemeni capital of Sanaa was struck on Sunday and attributed the action to Saudi forces.
Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman described recent events as serious and stated the kingdom's response would be "equally serious." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks and confirmed the death of an American citizen. President Donald Trump indicated he was weighing potential U.S. military involvement against the Houthis, though the White House did not issue a formal comment on Sunday.
The United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Australia, and Canada have issued warnings advising citizens to avoid the airport. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advised its nationals wishing to leave Saudi Arabia to consider traveling by land to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, or Jordan to secure onward flights. The Houthis have warned passengers and airlines that Saudi airports and airspace are considered military targets, with the exception of holy sites in Mecca and Medina.
Next steps include the assessment of material damage at the Riyadh airport. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi offered to facilitate dialogue between Riyadh and the Houthis during a phone call with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on Sunday.