A projectile struck King Khalid International airport in Riyadh on Sunday, killing one person and injuring 11 others, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority reported. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed that the deceased was a Pakistani resident, while the injured were transported to various hospitals for treatment.
The strike targeted terminals 3 and 4, which handle domestic flights. This incident follows a deadly Houthi missile attack on Saturday that killed 12 people and wounded more than 300. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia subsequently announced that one of its citizens succumbed to injuries sustained during the earlier attack, raising the total death toll from Saturday’s strike to 13.
GACA stated that safety inspections and damage assessments are currently underway at the airport. A witness told Reuters that a projectile hit the tarmac near parked aircraft around 8:30 pm local time (17:30 GMT), igniting a fire before the plane returned to the gate for evacuation.
The attacks have caused significant disruption, with the airport closed since Saturday’s assault, described as the deadliest in the kingdom since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began in late February. Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the latest strikes.
This marks the fourth time King Khalid airport has been hit in five days. On Thursday, Houthi attacks killed at least three Saudi citizens, including a pilot. The escalating violence raises concerns about further regional destabilization and potential US military involvement. US President Donald Trump has stated he is considering joining the fight against the Houthis but has not yet communicated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the matter.
The intensified conflict also threatens global energy supplies and commercial shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Fears persist that any US intervention could lead the Houthis to disrupt oil flows through the critical waterway, which they partially seized control of last month. The Saudi-led coalition continues efforts to reclaim these areas from the Iran-backed rebels.
Oil prices are going to skyrocket if the Strait of Hormuz gets touched. Just sayin’.
The potential for US involvement scares me more than the strikes themselves. This could spiral fast.
Wait, this is the fourth strike in five days? That seems impossibly fast. Can someone verify the timeline?
How is an international airport not fully secured? Eleven injured shows a massive security failure.
Tragic loss of life in such a civilian area. The escalation is deeply concerning for everyone in the region.