The missile hit the complex housing terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights at King Khalid International Airport, shattering what had been a fragile calm in the region. Civil aviation authorities confirmed 12 deaths and more than 300 injuries early Sunday, with victims ranging from Saudi citizens to nationals from Bangladesh, the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, and Palestine. The dead included a pilot killed in an earlier attack, highlighting the escalating risk to civilian air travel.
The Saudi-led coalition designated the strike a "fully-fledged war crime," blaming Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. This marks the deadliest attack on a Gulf Arab state since the Iran conflict expanded, following a surge in Houthi aggression against Saudi airports and oil infrastructure. The Houthis, who previously stayed on the sidelines, are now actively targeting Saudi assets in retaliation for coalition air support given to Yemeni government forces.
Washington reacted swiftly. President Donald Trump said he was "evaluating" whether the US should join Saudi strikes, adding, "We move very quickly." Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the "reprehensible attacks" on social media, confirming the death of an American citizen. Meanwhile, US Central Command struck a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman that ignored warnings, maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
The attack has rattled global markets and forced countries like the US, UK, and Germany to warn citizens to avoid the airport. Flights were diverted, and police sealed all entrances to the dimmed complex. Despite the violence, the Saudi energy ministry continued promoting a major international energy conference set to begin in Riyadh on Sunday, a decision that underscores the kingdom’s determination to project normalcy amid chaos.
Diplomats expect Saudi Arabia to pressure allies for direct military support, a move Riyadh has previously avoided to prevent all-out war. The next 48 hours will determine if Trump authorizes US intervention, potentially drawing America directly into the Yemeni front. For now, the Houthis remain silent on the Riyadh strike, while the coalition vows a "firm response."