CAIRO – Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following a devastating missile attack that took place on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals from various nationalities and injuring over 300 others. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement and the Saudi government.
The attack, which has been attributed to the Houthis by a Saudi-led coalition, is the deadliest assault recorded in any Gulf Arab state since the onset of the Iran conflict. In the past week, the King Khalid International Airport has faced multiple assaults, escalating tensions in a region already fraught with conflict.
As a vital hub and the world’s leading oil exporter, Saudi Arabia’s security situation has direct implications on global oil prices, which have surged in response to the heightened violence. The attack has not only rattled markets but has also prompted discussions at the highest levels of the U.S. government regarding potential military involvement. President Donald Trump stated he is assessing whether the United States should support Saudi military operations against the Houthis.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, airport operations were halted, with authorities extending the closure until at least 9 p.m. on Sunday, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar 24. The Houthi-run Health Ministry reported that in the preceding five weeks, 91 Yemenis had been killed and 168 injured by the Saudi-led coalition, emphasizing the severe human toll of the ongoing conflict.
The latest strike targeted the airport complex housing terminals designated for domestic flights, resulting in casualties that included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, an American citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese, with all injured individuals receiving treatment across various hospitals.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the death of an American citizen, Azza Ramzy, a 28-year-old flight attendant for a Saudi airline, during the attack, condemning the violence.
In light of these events, there is increasing pressure on the Saudi government to seek further military support from allies, particularly the United States. Trump indicated that he would be speaking with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the situation, hinting at the possibility of U.S. involvement in retaliatory strikes against the Houthis. The Saudi-led coalition has labeled the attack a “fully-fledged war crime,” vowing a strong response, particularly since the airport lacks any military facilities.
The Houthis have previously claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on the airport, which resulted in the deaths of three Saudi nationals, including a pilot. This surge in violence comes as the Saudi-led coalition mounts a significant military offensive against the Houthis, who have been engaged in the Yemeni civil war since 2015, seeking to restore the internationally recognized government.
As tensions escalate, the Houthis have warned global airlines about the risks of operating in Saudi airspace, which they consider an active theater for military operations. This warning has already prompted several airlines, including Air India, FlyDubai, and Lufthansa Group, to temporarily suspend flights to and from Saudi airports.
The conflict continues to evolve, with the Houthis now playing a more prominent role in the broader regional struggles influenced by Iran. The situation remains fluid, with both sides preparing for potential further escalation in what has become a protracted and devastating war.
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Anna reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Victoria Eastwood in Cairo, Collin Binkley in Washington, and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.
