Missile strike at Riyadh airport kills 12, injures over 300

A missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and injured over 300 others, Saudi civil aviation authorities reported early Sunday. The attack forced an immediate suspension of terminal operations until midnight and left multiple victims in critical condition.

The deceased included four Saudi citizens and two Bangladeshi nationals, alongside one each from Palestine, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Sudan. Hospitals across the capital are treating the wounded while police blockaded all entrances and dimmed lights around the complex.

The projectile hit the domestic flight section housing terminals 3 and 4. The strike marks the deadliest incident in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war. It follows a week of intensified attacks on Saudi military sites and energy infrastructure, coinciding with a Saudi-led coalition offensive against Houthi forces in Yemen. Later on Saturday, the coalition intercepted a Houthi-launched ballistic missile in Al-Kharj governorate and confirmed a projectile landing near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.

International carriers quickly adjusted schedules. Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa, and Pakistan International Airlines suspended flights to and from Saudi airports. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its airspace guidance, citing a greater focus on aviation infrastructure and the heightened danger to civilian planes. "We just found out about the recent attack. So we'll make a decision. We move very quickly," President Donald Trump said shortly after learning of the strike, adding that Washington is evaluating whether to join Saudi operations against the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia has requested air defense support from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt as interceptor stocks run low. Officials have confirmed that the United States provided intelligence sharing and target planning for the regional coalition's latest campaign. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities warned citizens this week that sharing details about missile interceptions carries legal consequences. "filming, publishing or sharing information related to countering missiles and drones and their impact sites exposes you to legal liability," the notice stated.