At least two people were killed in an attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, according to a local medical source. One victim was identified as an Egyptian flight attendant for a Saudi airline, while the other was a Palestinian holding Egyptian travel documents.
Saudi authorities have temporarily suspended airport operations and activated a rare mass call-up of doctors to manage what one medical source described as a “serious emergency.” Additionally, foreign embassies have urged their citizens to steer clear of the airport.
The Saudi civil aviation authority confirmed that the attack injured several people, attributing it to a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The group has previously targeted the airport, claiming a series of strikes last Thursday that killed three people and damaged an aircraft, although there were no announcements regarding new attacks on Saturday.
Witnesses at the airport reported a loud explosion and saw individuals wounded and fleeing in panic. One witness recalled, “I was at gate 403. I saw injuries in front of my eyes. Everyone was running.”
A medical source indicated that the health ministry had ordered emergency room doctors to hospitals across Riyadh to treat the injured, many of whom were in critical condition. Reports suggest that dozens were hurt, with five in intensive care at one local hospital.
Embassy warnings followed the attack, notably from the US, Canadian, German, and Spanish embassies, all advising their citizens to avoid the area. A senior Western diplomat revealed that numerous embassies had restricted staff travel to and from the airport as a precaution.
The conflict in Yemen has escalated following the collapse of a UN-brokered truce, with both Saudi Arabia and the Houthis signalling their intentions to continue fighting rather than pursue diplomatic resolutions. Meanwhile, Saudi-supported government troops are reportedly advancing against Houthi positions near the Bab al-Mandab strait, aiming to reclaim territories lost to the rebels last month.
As the situation develops, independent verification of claims from both sides remains challenging due to the rapidly changing circumstances on the ground and limited access for journalists.
