The latest strike killed one person and wounded 11 as repeated attacks disrupted Saudi aviation and deepened fighting with Yemen’s Houthis.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — A projectile struck a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, killing one person and wounding 11, Saudi authorities said, one day after a missile attack at the same airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said an unidentified projectile targeted Terminal 4 and caused a fire. Saudi air defenses also intercepted a cruise missile near the airport, according to the coalition. The latest attack extended a series of strikes on one of the kingdom’s most important transportation hubs and added to concerns about the safety of civilian aviation as fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis intensifies.
Saturday’s attack was initially reported to have killed 12 people. India’s embassy in Saudi Arabia later said an Indian citizen died Sunday from injuries suffered in the strike, raising the reported death toll to 13. More than 300 other people were wounded. Saudi authorities said the dead included Saudi citizens and nationals of several other countries, including the United States, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan and the Palestinian territories.
The Saturday missile struck a complex housing terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights. Saudi authorities suspended airport operations after the attack, and the airport remained closed Sunday. Images and video from the scene showed emergency crews responding around the airport after the strike. The attack was the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade and followed other recent attacks on the Riyadh airport.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility Sunday for Saturday’s strike and said the group had also attacked King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and facilities belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco. Saudi civil aviation authorities confirmed an attack at the Dammam airport and said damage assessments and safety inspections were underway. Saudi officials had not provided a detailed public assessment of the damage there.
The Houthis also renewed warnings Sunday against airlines and travelers using Saudi airports. Several airlines have suspended or altered service to Saudi destinations as the attacks have increased, while foreign governments have issued warnings about travel and aviation risks in the kingdom. U.S. aviation authorities have told American carriers to exercise caution while operating in or over Saudi Arabia.
The airport attacks come as Saudi Arabia has stepped up military involvement in Yemen, where the Houthis are fighting forces aligned with the internationally recognized Yemeni government. Saudi-backed forces have been trying to reverse recent Houthi gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, while Saudi aircraft have carried out strikes against Houthi-held areas. The Houthis have responded with attacks aimed at Saudi airports, energy facilities and other targets.
The escalation has widened concerns beyond Yemen. Saudi Arabia is a major oil producer, and renewed fighting near airports, energy facilities and shipping routes could affect regional transportation and commerce. The Houthis have also gained territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategically important waterway connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and a major route for global shipping.
President Donald Trump has said the United States is considering whether to join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. An American citizen was among those killed in Saturday’s airport attack. Trump said Saturday that Washington would examine possible involvement, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attack. No new U.S. military decision had been publicly announced Sunday.
The strikes have also placed renewed attention on Saudi Arabia’s air defenses as repeated missiles and drones reach targets deep inside the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has sought additional air-defense support from allies as the wider regional conflict strains interceptor supplies. The attacks have occurred as Riyadh hosts international business and energy events that are central to the kingdom’s efforts to expand tourism and foreign investment.
King Khalid International Airport remained disrupted Sunday as authorities assessed the latest damage and security risks. Saudi officials had not identified the projectile that struck Terminal 4, and the full timetable for restoring normal airport operations had not been announced. Fighting between Saudi-backed forces and the Houthis continued, leaving the risk of further attacks unresolved.
Author note: Last updated October 11, 2026.