A projectile struck Passenger Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday (11), igniting a blaze and injuring travelers. The attack occurred less than 24 hours after a bombardment killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300 at the same aviation complex.
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority confirmed that several individuals sustained injuries during the morning strike, though authorities have not yet released a finalized casualty tally. Major General Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition, stated that emergency crews responded to extinguish flames caused by an “unknown projectile” striking Passenger Terminal 4. Coalition air defense systems also intercepted a cruise missile flying near the perimeter of the capital’s airport on Sunday (11).
The incident followed an assault on Saturday (10) that marked the deadliest single attack on civil aviation infrastructure in the region since regional conflict expanded earlier this year. Official civil aviation records initially documented 12 fatalities and 308 injuries, while diplomatic and hospital accounts later placed the death toll at 13 and injuries at 309 after an Indian national died from severe wounds. The victims of Saturday’s blast included four Saudi citizens, two nationals from Bangladesh, and one citizen each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.
Houthi claims and warnings across Saudi airspace
Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for both weekend attacks, stating that the group deployed ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and armed drones. Saree asserted that fighters targeted the airport alongside oil infrastructure and Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia. He cautioned commercial airlines and civilian passengers to avoid Saudi airports and airspace entirely, announcing plans for “escalating operations deep inside Saudi Arabia” against all national airports except holy sites in Mecca and Medina.
The escalation follows earlier strikes during the week, including an assault on Thursday (8) in which cruise missiles hit the Riyadh airport complex, leaving three Saudi citizens dead. Multiple strikes also targeted civil air facilities in Abha and Riyadh during preceding days.
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Diplomatic responses and the collapsed 2022 truce
The renewal of cross-border attacks comes after a truce established in 2022 between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition collapsed in July 2026. Hostilities erupted anew when Houthi forces launched an offensive along strategically vital sections of the Red Sea coast, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from Saudi forces before Yemeni pro-government units stabilized those maritime zones. Saudi Arabia has led a military intervention in Yemen since 2015 to counter Houthi control, amid concerns over the Iran-aligned group consolidating power across its southern border, where it currently controls approximately 80% of Yemen’s population.
International officials responded to the weekend casualties as the Saudi-led coalition classified the bombardment as a “war crime” and pledged military retaliation. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the strikes and confirmed the death of an American citizen, while President Donald Trump stated that Washington would decide and move quickly regarding potential military responses. In the United Kingdom, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he was “appalled” by the violence, while Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested London could provide additional support to Riyadh as the British government advised citizens against traveling within 10 km of the Saudi-Yemeni border.
Meanwhile, Yemeni television network Al Masirah claimed that Saudi forces carried out an airstrike against Sanaa International Airport, though the claim has not been verified or confirmed by Saudi authorities. Abdullah Al-Alimi Bawazir, vice president of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, called on regional and international partners to take decisive actions against the group.
