A powerful explosion struck Riyadh International Airport on Saturday, killing at least a dozen people and injuring more than 300, according to the available reporting. Some of the injured were said to be in serious condition, while passengers were evacuated from parts of the airport after the blast.
The reported victims included people from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Syria. The Houthi movement was reported to have claimed responsibility and described the attack as retaliation against Saudi Arabia.
The incident has disrupted air travel to the Saudi capital. Etihad and Qatar Airways cancelled several flights, with some suspensions continuing until Monday. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 reported that passenger aircraft heading to Riyadh had either been cancelled or diverted after the explosion.
Travellers were advised to contact their airlines and check the latest flight status before going to the airport. More than a dozen ambulances were seen around the facility, according to a witness and people familiar with the incident. A helicopter was also seen flying above Riyadh airport.
Saudi Arabia's government information office and the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority did not comment on the incident in the available reporting.
Disruption follows earlier airport attacks
The latest reported blast came after attacks at the airport during the previous week. Those incidents killed 4 people and injured several others, according to the available report.
Saudi officials said the newest incident followed two attacks at the airport on Thursday. Those attacks killed three Saudi citizens, including a pilot. The Iran-backed Houthi movement claimed responsibility for those strikes.
Officials also said attacks on two Saudi airports on six and seven October killed three more people. The sequence of incidents has unfolded as fighting intensifies between Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces and Houthi rebels, who control large areas in the country's north-west.
The airport blast also occurred shortly before major energy and investment events were due to take place in Riyadh. Organisers said on Saturday that the conferences would proceed as planned.
Houthis link attacks to Yemen war
The Houthis have said their attacks on Saudi Arabia are retaliation for Riyadh's support of government forces in Yemen's civil war. Saudi Arabia led a coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015, seeking to prevent the Houthi rebels from taking control from the internationally recognised government.
The conflict has included years of air strikes and ground fighting. The available report links the prolonged war to a humanitarian crisis in which millions of people have died.
Fighting has also intensified around strategically important areas on Yemen's Red Sea coast. These include the port of Mocha, near the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a narrow and important route for international shipping.
Yemeni government-aligned forces have since claimed control of the strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. The available reporting does not provide an independent confirmation of that claim.
A temporary ceasefire reached in 2022 began to break down in July. The Houthis then announced a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and carried out missile and drone attacks on airports, oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea.
The Houthi organisation said that campaign responded to what it described as a long-running Saudi blockade and air strikes on Sana'a airport. These claims form part of the wider dispute between the movement and Saudi-backed forces.
Conclusion
The Riyadh airport explosion has caused major loss of life and injury, disrupted flights and intensified concern over the widening Saudi-Yemen conflict. The Houthis have claimed retaliation, while Saudi authorities had not commented in the available reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What happened at Riyadh International Airport?
A powerful blast struck the airport on Saturday. At least a dozen people were reported killed and more than 300 injured.
Q. Who claimed responsibility?
The Houthi movement was reported to have claimed responsibility. It described the attack as retaliation against Saudi Arabia.
Q. Were flights affected?
Yes. Several Etihad and Qatar Airways flights were cancelled, while flights heading to Riyadh were reportedly cancelled or diverted.
Q. Did Saudi authorities comment?
The Saudi government information office and the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority did not comment in the available reporting.
Q. What happened to the injured passengers?
More than 300 people were reported injured, and some were said to be in serious condition. Passengers were evacuated from parts of the airport.
Q. Why do the Houthis say they are attacking Saudi Arabia?
The Houthis say their attacks are retaliation for Saudi support of government forces in Yemen's civil war.
Q. What is the wider regional context?
The blast occurred during intensifying fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and Houthi rebels in Yemen. The conflict has also affected strategically important areas near the Red Sea.
