Saudi Arabia: Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport Killed 12 and Injured Over 300; Trump Weighs Joining Strikes on the Houthis

Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said at least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured (309, according to Al Jazeera) in the third attack in a week on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, which took place on Saturday 10 October 2026 (18 Mehr 1405). Riyadh holds Yemen's Houthis responsible. Al Jazeera described it as the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade. An earlier New York Times count, relayed by Donya-e-Eqtesad, had put the toll at at least 12 dead and 50 injured.

Donald Trump called the attack "terrible" and said he would speak with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and was evaluating whether the US should join Saudi strikes on the Houthis: "We may. We're gonna look at it... We'll move very quickly." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an American was among the dead. The UN special envoy for Yemen called it a "grave escalation", and Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and Japan condemned it. Pakistan, which recently activated its mutual defence pact with Riyadh, called it a "heinous act of terrorism" and reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi sovereignty.

The war in Yemen between the Houthis and forces aligned with the internationally recognised government, backed by a Saudi air campaign, has intensified. Part of the oil market's concern centres on the security of Saudi export routes, airports and ports.