A Houthi missile struck the apron of King Khalid International Airport at 07:45 local time, igniting a fire that shattered the calm of Riyadh’s busiest transit hub. The blast killed a Pakistani national and left 11 others, including a Saudi flight attendant, with severe injuries, according to the civil aviation authority. The attack follows the group’s Saturday incursion, which killed three more passengers at the same terminal, marking the deadliest strike on Saudi soil in over a decade.
Saudi air defences intercepted a second projectile that evening, and coalition officials confirmed the launch of a missile aimed at the airport’s perimeter. The national aviation authority has extended the airport’s closure until 2100 GMT Monday, while the coalition announced plans to increase patrols over Riyadh’s airspace. Earlier, the coalition reported a projectile hitting near Dammam Airport and destroyed a Houthi drone over Khamis Mushait, a key military base.
The United Nations Security Council condemned the strike as a war crime, with Secretary‑General António Guterres calling the attack “unacceptable and a blatant violation of international law.” Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, urged Washington and Riyadh to pursue dialogue, saying Tehran was ready to facilitate a political settlement. US President Donald Trump said he was considering joining Saudi air strikes against the Houthis, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelled the attack a “horrific terrorist act.” Australia’s foreign minister publicly denounced the assault and urged Australian citizens to stay indoors, reinforcing the growing global pressure on the Houthi movement.
A local businessman recalled hearing the missile’s roar and seeing the airport’s security lights flicker, describing the scene as “panic in motion.” The coalition’s spokesperson, Major General Khaled Al‑Zahr, vowed a “decisive response” and promised to deploy additional interceptors over the kingdom’s major hubs. Saudi officials will convene a meeting of the Joint Operations Command tomorrow to assess the strike’s impact and plan counter‑measures.