A devastating attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has left at least 12 people dead and more than 300 injured, according to Saudi authorities. Described as “brutal” by the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, the incident caused significant material damage to the facility, though the full extent of the destruction is still being assessed.
Among the fatalities are victims from multiple nationalities. Saudi officials confirmed that one American citizen was killed, alongside two Bangladeshi nationals, as well as citizens from Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. The U.S. State Department had not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the American victim.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for this latest assault. However, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on the same airport on Thursday, which resulted in the deaths of three Saudi citizens. Those previous strikes targeted airport infrastructure and a Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft, killing a pilot, but operations have since resumed.
The violence occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump announced major combat operations against Iran on February 28, launching joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government, and infrastructure sites. Although diplomatic negotiations began in June to broker a war-ending deal based on a mutual memorandum of understanding, those talks collapsed as both nations continued to exchange military strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz emerging as a primary flashpoint.
In August, Trump declared that the U.S. would initiate a “crushing economic operation” to compel Tehran to submit. More recently, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced that it targeted the LPG carrier NV Sunshine, owned by Nhat Viet Corporation, south of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC stated the vessel suffered extensive fires in its engine room and propulsion system, warning that companies deceptive to the U.S. would face sanctions.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Trump stated on Thursday that the U.S. is engaged in “productive discussions” with Iran and pledged not to launch attacks ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3. He emphasized that while a blockade remains in effect, oil continues to flow through the Hormuz Strait at record levels, noting that 22 million barrels moved the previous night with none originating from or destined for Iran.
This confirms my fears about the escalating tensions between the US and Iran. The region is dangerously unstable right now.
Wait, operations resumed after Thursday? How did they allow flights back in before the security situation was fully assessed?
With no group claiming responsibility yet, it’s hard to know the true scope. I hope diplomacy holds despite these attacks.
I can’t believe hundreds were injured at an airport. This is absolutely terrifying news from Riyadh.