A Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh has killed 12 people and injured 309, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation, or GACA. Some of those injured are reported to be in critical condition.
The attack targeted one of Saudi Arabia's busiest airports and involved victims from several nationalities. The reported dead include Saudi and Bangladeshi citizens, as well as nationals of the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
GACA confirmed the incident in a statement and provided the casualty figures. The reported toll makes the airport strike one of the most serious attacks described in the supplied reporting since the war involving Iran began.
Wider attacks on Saudi infrastructure
The airport strike follows an earlier attack that damaged Saudi Arabia's East-West crude oil pipeline. The pipeline is described as being 1200 kilometres long and strategically important to the country's oil infrastructure.
The earlier pipeline attack was reported to have affected oil supplies around the world. The new strike on a civilian airport has widened the focus from energy infrastructure to a major transport facility in the Saudi capital.
The supplied reporting also refers to two explosions heard again at Riyadh airport and to air traffic being halted in the sky above the city. It does not provide separate casualty figures or additional verified details for that report.
Saudi Arabia's proposed regional support
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan had discussed cooperation against attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels under the Mecca Pact. The arrangement was described as the “Mecca Alliance for Defence”.
The pact was signed on 7 August and was reportedly activated for the first time after an emergency meeting of the three countries' defence and foreign ministers in Riyadh. Under the agreement, an attack on 1 member country is treated as an attack on all three.
The reporting says Saudi Arabia had discussed Türkiye and Pakistan joining its response. It also says Houthi attacks continued after the pact, while the two partners had not yet taken action in response to the reported strikes.
What is confirmed
The confirmed details from Saudi aviation authorities are the location, the reported Houthi attribution, and the toll of 12 dead and 309 injured. details about the weapon used, the precise damage to airport operations, or any official response from Türkiye or Pakistan after the attack is not yet available.
The nationality breakdown in the supplied material is not fully consistent: one passage lists three Saudi citizens, while another lists four. The total death toll and the broader list of affected nationalities are therefore reported here without repeating a disputed breakdown.
Conclusion
The Riyadh airport attack has killed 12 people and injured 309, according to GACA. It follows earlier damage to Saudi oil infrastructure and comes as Saudi Arabia seeks regional cooperation against Houthi attacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What happened at King Khalid International Airport?
A Houthi attack was reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Q. How many people were killed?
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation reported 12 deaths.
Q. How many people were injured?
GACA reported that 309 people were injured, with some described as being in critical condition.
Q. Which nationalities were among the victims?
The reported victims included Saudi and Bangladeshi citizens, along with nationals of the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Q. What Saudi infrastructure was targeted earlier?
An earlier attack damaged Saudi Arabia's 1200-kilometre East-West crude oil pipeline.
Q. What is the Mecca Pact?
The pact is described as a defence arrangement involving Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan. It treats an attack on 1 member as an attack on all three.
Q. When was the pact signed?
The supplied reporting says the agreement was signed on 7 August.
Q. Has Türkiye or Pakistan responded to the latest attacks?
The supplied reporting says the two countries had not yet taken action after the continuing Houthi attacks.
