Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of carrying out a strike on Riyadh International Airport that killed at least 12 people and wounded 300 others. The assault, which took place on Saturday, was the third strike on the site this week.
Saudi authorities describe the incident as the deadliest of its kind in the kingdom for over ten years. Reaction from Washington and across the region has been swift.
Nationalities of those hit at Riyadh airport
According to the Saudi civil aviation authority, the Saturday casualties included four Saudi nationals and two people from Bangladesh. Individuals from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt were also among the victims, with one person from each of those countries.
Washington weighs response as Trump and Rubio speak out
President Donald Trump called the attack terrible and said he would hold talks shortly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he described as Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader. He added that Washington was considering whether to take part in the fighting against the Houthis and would act swiftly once it had decided.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an American had died in the attack and urged an end to what he called reprehensible strikes. In a post on X, he said Washington stood with the kingdom and its people and sent condolences to the families of the victims.
Regional and UN voices condemn strikes on civilian sites
The attacks come as the war in Yemen grows more intense. Houthis are contesting control of the nation with forces backed by the internationally recognised government, while Saudi Arabia runs an air campaign to support the government’s ground offensive against the Iran-backed group.
UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg described the lethal assaults on civilian aviation hubs as “a grave escalation,” warning that they threaten regional security and make peace efforts harder. Egypt’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the Houthi attacks, calling them a flagrant breach of international law.
Qatar’s foreign ministry said the attacks amounted to a major breach of Saudi sovereignty, posing a direct danger to regional safety. Doha backed all legitimate steps Riyadh takes to protect its territory. The Palestinian foreign ministry expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and supported measures to protect its citizens and residents.
Japan’s embassy in the kingdom condemned the repeated attacks, saying assaults on civilians are unacceptable in every situation.
