RIYADH: At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 others injured in a missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, according to Saudi authorities. Several of the injured are in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll could rise.
According to reports, the attack was the third incident targeting King Khalid International Airport within a week. The victims included people of several nationalities, including four Saudi citizens and two Bangladeshi nationals. One citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan was also among those killed, according to Saudi civil aviation authorities.
Deadliest Attack on Saudi Arabia in More Than a Decade
According to Reuters, Saturday’s attack was the deadliest assault on Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. The strike occurred without prior warning, and the country’s threat-warning system did not issue an alert in time, according to people familiar with the incident.
The attack marks a further escalation in the recent campaign against Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, an Iran-backed armed group based in Yemen, claimed responsibility for the strike, Reuters reported.
The two earlier attacks on King Khalid International Airport during the same week had already killed four people and caused significant damage to a commercial aircraft parked on the airport’s tarmac.
Several injured people were taken to hospitals, with some reported to be in critical condition. The latest attack has heightened concerns over airport security and the potential for further escalation in the region.
