Saudi Arabia faces heightened security after reported attacks on Riyadh and Dammam airports, causing casualties, fires and widespread flight disruptions. Nearly 1,500 flights have reportedly been cancelled across the country amid growing international concern.
1 person was killed, and 11 were wounded after an airstrike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia on the weekend of October 11 2026. According to the Saudi-led coalition, a projectile struck Terminal 4 of the airport and triggered a fire inside the passenger terminal. The incident occurred just one day after a missile attack on the airport, which left 13 people, including an Indian national, dead and at least 300 injured. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi Rebels have claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Massive flight disruptions were reported, and operations at the airport were completely suspended. The Houthi movement has warned all airlines and passengers using Saudi airports and airspace that the areas have been declared active military zones by them. Saudi air defences also intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the airport.
The strike has also increased the death toll of the weekend's strikes to 14. The impact on global aviation has been severe, with nearly 1,500 flights cancelled across Saudi Arabia. The strikes were swiftly condemned by the international community. The United Nations and allied states, along with countries such as Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt, denounced the strikes as a 'dangerous escalation'. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu similarly condemned the violence.
The Houthis also targeted King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, triggering fires on the tarmac and subsequent flight cancellations. Saudi authorities have ordered schools in Riyadh to shift to remote learning as a precaution. The strikes come at a time when Saudi Arabia is set to host the World Petroleum Congress.
The security threat has already led to major corporate withdrawals. Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a warning for American airlines to exercise caution when flying in Saudi airspace. The strikes have prompted US President Donald Trump to state that Washington is evaluating whether to join the retaliatory military operations against the Houthis.
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