Riyadh Airport Evacuated Injured Alleged Houthi Missile Strike
Riyadh – A fresh security incident unfolded at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital on Saturday, prompting widespread evacuations and leaving dozens of people injured. The event marks the second assault on the facility within a short period, occurring just two days after an attack claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement resulted in three fatalities among Saudi nationals. According to a diplomatic source, the latest incident involved a missile strike attributed to the Houthis, though Saudi authorities have not yet officially confirmed the nature of the attack or the full extent of the disruptions.
Medical sources provided grim details regarding the casualties. A source at a hospital in Riyadh stated that dozens of individuals were treated for injuries, with the majority identified as Saudi nationals. The severity of the situation was underscored by reports that at least five of the injured required intensive care unit treatment. This surge in medical admissions follows the earlier tragedy on Thursday, which claimed three lives and heightened tensions across the region.
While official channels remained silent on specific confirmations, eyewitness accounts painted a chaotic scene inside the terminal. Passengers described hearing explosions and witnessing strikes that directly impacted travelers. One witness, who identified their location as gate 403 in the domestic terminal, recounted seeing impact damage near gate 401 and observing injured people nearby. "Everyone was running," the witness said, describing the panic that ensued as passengers attempted to flee the immediate area. Another individual reported seeing a strike that wounded people, corroborating the reports of physical harm caused by the alleged projectile.
The uncertainty surrounding the attack led several foreign missions to issue urgent advisories. The embassies of Canada, Germany, and Spain in Saudi Arabia warned their respective citizens to avoid the airport immediately following reports of the incident. These warnings came as airlines scrambled to adjust their schedules in response to the closure. Kuwait Airways announced the cancellation of two flights connecting the Saudi capital with Kuwait City. In a statement posted online, the carrier specified that flight KU775 from Kuwait to Riyadh and flight KU776 from Riyadh to Kuwait were cancelled due to the airport's closure resulting from the security situation.
Officials advised passengers to check their flight status regularly as the situation developed. The recurrence of attacks on such a critical infrastructure hub has raised concerns about the safety of international travel through Riyadh. The Houthi movement’s previous claim of responsibility for the Thursday attack, which killed three citizens, set a precedent for the type of threat now being assessed in this new incident. As investigations into the cause of the explosion continue, the focus remains on the well-being of the injured and the restoration of normal operations at one of the Middle East’s busiest aviation centers.
This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
