Saudi Arabia closes Riyadh airport after attack
A missile attack claimed by Houthi rebels killed at least 12 people and injured over 300 at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, leading to its closure and flight suspensions.
- Development: Saudi Arabia closes Riyadh airport after attack
- Core Takeaway: A missile attack claimed by Houthi rebels killed at least 12 people and injured over 300 at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, leading to its closure and flight suspensions.
- Context: Primary reporting aggregated across independent newsrooms and verified against CurrentDeck standards.
Riyadh Airport Attack
The international airport in Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, was attacked on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people and injuring over 300 others, according to nbcnewyork.com. The attack, which was claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, targeted a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport and prompted evacuations.US Response
President Donald Trump has said that the US may join Saudi strikes against the Houthis, following the attack on Riyadh airport. "We may. We're going to look at it," Trump said, as quoted by npr.org. "We just found out about the recent attack. So we'll make a decision. We move very quickly." The US has already been providing intelligence sharing, target identification, and planning for the latest offensive against the Houthis, according to npr.org.International Reaction
Several countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, have warned their citizens to avoid the airport due to security risks, as reported by newsweek.com. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, noting the Houthis' ability to strike targets deeper inside the kingdom, including Riyadh. Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways have canceled multiple flights involving Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into Monday, according to newsweek.com.Attack Details
The attack on Riyadh airport is part of a larger escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. The Houthis have launched several missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia in recent days, targeting airports, military facilities, and oil infrastructure, as reported by npr.org. The Saudi-led coalition has responded with air support for government forces attempting to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea.| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Number of deaths | At least 12, according to nbcnewyork.com |
| Number of injuries | Over 300, according to nbcnewyork.com |
| Number of flights canceled | At least 291, according to npr.org |
| Countries warning citizens to avoid the airport | US, UK, Canada, Australia, and others, as reported by newsweek.com |
Fighting in Yemen
The fighting in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces has escalated in recent days, with the Saudi-led coalition providing air support for government forces attempting to reverse recent Houthi gains along the Red Sea, as reported by npr.org. The Houthis have warned airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, which they declared a zone of military operations after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government began an offensive against the group earlier this month, according to newsweek.com.Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Riyadh airport?
A missile attack on Saturday killed at least 12 people and injured over 300 others, prompting the suspension of flights and a heavy police presence at the airport, as reported by nbcnewyork.com.
Who claimed responsibility for the attack?
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of a larger escalation in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, as reported by npr.org.
How have countries responded to the attack?
Several countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, have warned their citizens to avoid the airport due to security risks, while the US has said it may join Saudi strikes against the Houthis, as reported by newsweek.com.
How significant is this development?
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