Missile Attack on Riyadh Airport Leaves 12 Dead, 309 Injured
The Saudi-led coalition has accused the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who operate in Yemen, of carrying out the attack. Reports indicate that the area housing the airport’s domestic flight terminals was targeted.
A missile attack reportedly struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring 309 others, according to the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority.
Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition. The incident has further heightened tensions across the Middle East. The Saudi-led coalition has accused the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who operate in Yemen, of carrying out the attack. Reports indicate that the area housing the airport’s domestic flight terminals was targeted.
According to officials, four of those killed were Saudi nationals, while the remaining victims were citizens of Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. The injured are receiving treatment at various hospitals.
The Saudi-led coalition has strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a serious war crime and warning that an appropriate response would follow. However, reports indicate that the Houthis have not officially claimed responsibility for this particular attack.
US President Donald Trump has condemned the reported missile attack on Riyadh airport. When asked whether the United States would consider joining Saudi Arabia in military operations against the Houthi rebels, Trump said he would look into the possibility.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also condemned the attack. However, the US administration has yet to announce a final decision on how it intends to respond to the incident.
