A strike hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring 309 others, according to Saudi aviation authorities. The victims included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis, and one each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. The attack targeted the airport’s infrastructure, causing significant disruption.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the casualties and described the attack as a direct strike. The Houthi group, based in Yemen, has been accused of launching the attack. Saudi Arabia has responded with military strikes on Houthi targets, including airports in Yemen. The ongoing conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has intensified in recent weeks.
This incident follows a series of attacks on Saudi and Yemeni airports, with both sides exchanging strikes. The latest attack on Riyadh’s airport marks a new escalation in the regional conflict. The Houthi group has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi infrastructure, while Saudi Arabia has accused the Houthis of supporting terrorism.
The attack has led to increased security measures at airports in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Air Cairo, Egypt’s national carrier, has suspended flights to Riyadh following the incident. Travel between Egypt and Saudi Arabia has been disrupted, affecting thousands of passengers.
The conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia has roots in the 2015 Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen. The Houthis, a Shia group, have been fighting Saudi-backed forces in Yemen since 2015. The current tensions reflect the broader geopolitical struggle in the Middle East.
