King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was hit by an attack that left 12 people dead and 309 injured. The incident has heightened concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could escalate further.
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The death toll was confirmed by Saudi civil aviation authorities, who said that some of the injured were in critical condition. A US citizen was among the victims. Airport operations were temporarily suspended, and authorities began assessing the damage.
The Saudi-led military coalition blamed the Houthi rebels operating in Yemen and backed by Iran for the strike on the passenger terminal at the Saudi capital’s airport. The coalition supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government. International reports, however, said that the Houthis had not claimed responsibility for the latest attack in Riyadh.
Turki al-Maliki, a spokesman for the Saudi coalition, said the strike on the passenger terminal constituted a war crime. He warned of a firm response against those responsible, saying the coalition command would respond decisively to the attack, which he described as terrorist.
Hans Grundberg, the United Nations special envoy for Yemen, described the attack on Riyadh airport as a serious escalation.
Grundberg warned that attacks of this kind directly threaten regional security, fuel cycles of violence and undermine international efforts to achieve peace in Yemen. Calling for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, he urged the Houthi rebels to stop attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia.
US President Donald Trump also condemned the attack, calling it unacceptable and announcing that, following the serious incident, he would speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said what had happened in Saudi Arabia was unacceptable. When asked whether the United States might join Saudi Arabia in military strikes against the Houthi rebels, he did not rule out the possibility.
The US president said such involvement was possible and would be considered. He added that they had just been informed of the latest attack, that they would make a decision and that they were acting very quickly.
Trump’s statements came as confrontations between the Houthi rebels and forces backed by Saudi Arabia have intensified, increasing the risk that the conflict could spread.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia raised its alert level for American citizens in the country. In an official notice, it announced restrictions on its personnel at the Saudi airports in Jeddah and Dammam.
US government employees are also required to obtain special authorization to use King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and the airports in Jeddah and Dammam. These measures followed the attack that left 12 people dead, including a US citizen, and more than 300 injured.
The attack represents another critical development for regional security. Warnings of military retaliation, together with the possibility of direct US involvement, have heightened fears of a further expansion of the conflict.
