Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthis of killing at least 12 people and wounding 300 others in a third attack on the Riyadh international airport this week.
According to the Saudi civil aviation authority, the victims on Saturday included four Saudi nationals, two individuals from Bangladesh, and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.
The attack was the deadliest in the kingdom in more than a decade.
The developments occurred as the war in Yemen intensified, with the Houthis battling forces aligned with the internationally recognized government for control of the country. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is waging an air campaign against the Houthis to support the ground war conducted by the Yemeni government against the Iran-backed group.
US President Donald Trump described the attack as “terrible” and stated that he “will be speaking” with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, soon. He also indicated that he was evaluating whether the United States should join the war against the Houthis.
“We may. We’re gonna look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We’ll move very quickly,” he said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Houthi attack resulted in the death of an American. He also called for an end to what he described as "these reprehensible attacks".
Writing on X, he stated, “We stand with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and extend our condolences to the victims and their families.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement on X, saying he is “deeply shocked” and strongly condemns “Saturday’s lethal attack by the Houthis on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh”.
He said that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violated international law and “must cease immediately”.
Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, stated that the deadly strikes on civilian airports in Saudi Arabia constitute “a grave escalation.”
“Such actions pose a serious threat to regional security, perpetuate cycles of violence and complicate even more peace efforts for Yemen,” he said in a statement.
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its strong condemnation of the Houthi attacks, denouncing their flagrant violation of international law and the disregard for the safety of citizens that they entail.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Houthi attacks, describing them as a “serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to the security of the region, the safety of civilians, civil facilities and air navigation”.
It expressed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and stated that Doha supported all legitimate measures taken by the kingdom to preserve its sovereignty, security, and the safety of its territories.
Pakistan also strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “heinous act of terrorism” and a “grave threat to regional peace and security.”
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Islamabad—which has recently activated a mutual defence pact with Riyadh over the attacks—"stands in unwavering solidarity" with Saudi Arabia.
Jordan’s King Abdullah offered his condolences to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the attacks, while expressing his kingdom's full solidarity with Riyadh.
The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the “brutal aggression” by the Houthis, describing it as a “dangerous escalation” and a “blatant breach of international law.”
The sultanate also denounced the attack and emphasised the “necessity of prioritising the voice of wisdom and self-restraint, and avoiding actions that would expand the scope of escalation, in order to preserve the security and stability of the region”.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared "its full solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" and stated that it supported "all measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents".
Japan’s embassy in Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the repeated attacks by the Houthis, stating that assaults on civilians “cannot be tolerated” under any circumstances.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly the strike on King Khalid International airport in Riyadh, as “abhorrent”.
“There can be no justification for attacks on civilian infrastructure,” he wrote on X, adding that Canada “condemns these reckless acts of violence in the strongest possible terms”.
Why it matters
The death of Bangladeshi nationals in a major regional escalation underscores the direct risks faced by citizens abroad and heightens diplomatic tensions surrounding the conflict in Yemen.