Between October 6 and 12, 2026, Yemen's Houthi movement launched a series of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian airports, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 370, according to Saudi authorities. The deadliest strike hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10, killing 12 people and wounding over 300.
Yemen's Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, carried out a wave of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian airports between October 6 and 12, 2026. Saudi authorities say the strikes killed at least 20 people and wounded more than 370, making it the deadliest round of attacks inside Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
What happened
The attacks hit five airports across Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport in Jazan and Najran Airport on October 6, causing minor injuries; Abha International Airport on October 7, where two women, one Algerian and one Moroccan, were killed and 28 people wounded; and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, which was also struck, according to Saudi officials cited by Al Jazeera and Wikipedia's summary of the events.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital's main airport, was hit repeatedly. Saudi officials said strikes on October 7 and 8 killed four people combined, including an airline pilot. The deadliest single attack came on October 10, when a missile strike killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, according to Saudi officials, as reported by Al Jazeera. Further strikes were reported on October 11 and 12, with the Saudi-led coalition saying it intercepted additional ballistic missiles fired toward Riyadh.
Victims of the October 10 attack on King Khalid airport included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt, according to Saudi authorities cited by Al Jazeera. According to Wikipedia's summary of the events, a Saudia Airbus A320 was destroyed in the strikes.
Who claimed responsibility
The Houthis claimed the attacks. The group's media office said it had "shut down Riyadh international airport," according to Al Jazeera.
Houthis have escalated massively, they've crossed that line… they are a maximalist group.
— Hisham al-Omeisy, conflict analyst, quoted by Al Jazeera
International reaction
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen called the Riyadh airport attack a "full-fledged war crime" and promised a "decisive" response, according to Al Jazeera. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was "deeply shocked" by the attacks and said strikes on civilians "must cease immediately." UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg described the attacks as "a grave escalation," warning they would "perpetuate cycles of violence and complicate even more peace efforts for Yemen."
US President Donald Trump called the attacks "terrible" and said Washington was evaluating joining Saudi Arabia's military response, according to Al Jazeera. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States stands with Saudi Arabia and condemned the strikes as "reprehensible." Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, Syria, India, Japan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia also issued formal condemnations, according to Al Jazeera's reporting.
Impact on aviation
Saudi authorities temporarily suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport for damage assessment, with a notice indicating the airport would remain closed until at least October 17, according to Al Jazeera and Wikipedia's summary of the events. International carriers including Lufthansa and Air France-KLM suspended flights linked to Saudi Arabia. The United States, United Kingdom and Canada issued travel advisories urging citizens to avoid the airport, according to Al Jazeera and Wikipedia's summary of the events.
Questions
How many people were killed and injured in the Houthi attacks on Saudi airports?
Saudi authorities say at least 20 people were killed and more than 370 wounded across strikes on five airports between October 6 and 12, 2026, according to Al Jazeera reporting and Wikipedia's summary of the events.
Which airport was hit hardest?
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was struck multiple times; the deadliest single attack, on October 10, killed 12 people and wounded over 300, according to Saudi officials cited by Al Jazeera.
Why did the Houthis attack Saudi airports?
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strikes; the group's media office said it had "shut down Riyadh international airport," according to Al Jazeera. Conflict analyst Hisham al-Omeisy told Al Jazeera the escalation showed the Houthis had become "a maximalist group."
Is King Khalid International Airport still closed?
In the aftermath of the attacks, authorities issued a notice indicating the Riyadh airport would remain closed until at least October 17, 2026, according to Al Jazeera and Wikipedia's summary of the events.
How did the international community respond?
The UN Secretary-General condemned the attacks as violations that must cease immediately, the US called them terrible while evaluating its involvement, and more than a dozen countries including Egypt, Qatar and Jordan issued formal condemnations, according to Al Jazeera.
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