Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of killing at least 12 individuals and injuring approximately 300 others in a third strike on Riyadh International Airport this week. The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the victims killed on Saturday included four Saudis, two Bangladeshi nationals, and citizens from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.
The incident stands as the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than ten years, occurring against a backdrop of intensifying conflict in Yemen. The Iran-backed Houthi group is currently engaged in a struggle for control of the country against forces aligned with the internationally recognized government, with Saudi Arabia conducting an air campaign to support the Yemeni government’s ground operations.
International reaction has been swift and unequivocal. In the United States, President Donald Trump characterized the assault as “terrible” and indicated he plans to consult with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shortly. Trump also revealed that Washington is assessing its potential military involvement.
“We may. We’re gonna look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We’ll move very quickly,” Trump stated regarding the possibility of US participation in the war against the Houthis. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that one American citizen was killed and called for an immediate halt to what he termed “reprehensible attacks.” He added on social media platform X that the US stands with Saudi Arabia and offers condolences to the victims’ families.
At the United Nations, Hans Grundberg, the special envoy for Yemen, labeled the strikes on civilian airports as a “grave escalation.” He warned in a statement that such actions pose a severe threat to regional security, perpetuate cycles of violence, and further complicate peace efforts for Yemen.
Regional allies also voiced strong opposition. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a “strong condemnation,” criticizing the Houthis for a “flagrant violation” of international law and a disregard for civilian safety. Similarly, Qatar’s foreign ministry denounced the attacks as a serious breach of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, air navigation, and civilian life. Doha affirmed its full solidarity with Riyadh and support for any legitimate measures taken to protect its territory.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared its “full solidarity” with the “sisterly Kingdom,” stating support for all measures undertaken to safeguard Saudi security, sovereignty, and the safety of its residents. Japan’s embassy in Riyadh strongly condemned the repeated assaults, asserting that attacks on civilians cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
US involvement is escalating fast. Do we really want more military intervention here, or a diplomatic exit strategy?
A third strike on an airport in one week? How is civilian safety being ignored? Something has to change immediately.
Twelve dead? This is absolutely horrific. The victims’ families deserve justice, and the world must act now.