World · Middle East · 3 days ago
Three killed in attacks on Riyadh airport, Saudi authorities say
Three Saudi citizens, including a Saudia airline pilot, were killed in two attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and an aircraft on the ground.
Saudi authorities said people of other nationalities were also wounded, and the airline said the plane had no passengers on board.
Yemen’s Houthi group claimed it had attacked the airport with ballistic missiles, but Saudi authorities did not identify who carried out the attacks.
The strikes come as fighting has intensified between the Houthis and forces backed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s civil war.
The Houthis say their attacks on Saudi targets are retaliation for Saudi support of Yemen’s government forces.
The Riyadh attacks add to recent strikes on Saudi airports, including one in Abha, and have led airlines to cancel or suspend some flights.
Saudi authorities later said airport operations had returned to normal, while a Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed three Houthi rocket launch platforms.
Three Saudi citizens, including a Saudia pilot, were killed in two attacks targeting Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and an aircraft, Saudi authorities said.
The attacks took place on Thursday, and several people of different nationalities were wounded.
Yemen’s Houthis claimed to have attacked the airport with ballistic missiles, but Saudi authorities did not identify those responsible.
The airport said operations had returned to normal, though airlines cancelled or suspended some flights to Riyadh.
The attacks came amid renewed fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.
- Who
- Three Saudi citizens were killed, including a Saudia pilot. People of other nationalities were also wounded.
- What
- Two attacks targeted Riyadh airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft; the Houthis claimed responsibility.
- When
- Thursday, October 8, 2026.
- Where
- King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Why
- The Houthis said they were targeting Saudi Arabia over its support for government forces in Yemen’s civil war.
Saudi Arabia and its coalition allies
Yemen’s Houthi movement
Responsibility for the Riyadh attacks
Saudi Arabia and its coalition allies
Saudi authorities reported the attacks but did not identify who was responsible.
Yemen’s Houthi movement
The Houthis said they attacked the airport with ballistic missiles.
Justification for the attacks
Saudi Arabia and its coalition allies
Saudi Arabia and allied forces say their campaign in Yemen targets Houthi threats to regional security.
Yemen’s Houthi movement
The Houthis say their attacks respond to Saudi aggression and support for government forces in Yemen.
Houthi attacks on two Saudi airports killed three people and wounded 28, according to Saudi authorities.
Two attacks targeted Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and a Saudia aircraft; the Houthis said they had attacked the airport.
Saudi authorities said three citizens, including a Saudia pilot, were killed and people of several nationalities were wounded.
Saudia said the damaged aircraft had no passengers on board, and airport operations returned to normal.
- Killed
- 3 Saudi citizens, including a Saudia pilot
- Location
- King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh
- Attack date
- Thursday, October 8, 2026
- Aircraft damage
- A Saudia aircraft was damaged on the ground; no passengers were on board
- Wounded
- Several people of different nationalities; injuries ranged from minor to serious
- Claim
- Yemen’s Houthis said they targeted the airport with ballistic missiles
What people are saying
resulted in the martyrdom of three citizens
response to the Saudi aggression against our country
for the last time
recurrent missile and drone attacks, together with the activation of air-defence systems, create an increased risk of misidentification of civil aircraft, as well as risks associated with missile and drone overflights, interception activity and falling debris.
Sources
Saudi authorities say three killed in Houthi-claimed attacks on Riyadh airport
Three Saudi nationals killed in Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport
Three killed in attacks on Riyadh airport as Iran-backed Houthis step up strikes on Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia says 3 killed at Riyadh airport as Yemen war expands
Three Saudis killed in Riyadh airport attack claimed by Houthis
Three Saudis killed in Houthi attack on Riyadh airport
Saudi airline pilot among three killed in attacks on Riyadh airport
3 people killed in Houthi attack on main airport in Riyadh, Saudi officials say
Arabia Saudita, missile Houthi distrugge un Airbus all’aeroporto di Riad: 3 morti, diversi feriti. Le compagnie europee annullano i voli
Related news
Burnham says Iran’s Revolutionary Guard likely directed Fairford plot
Saudi Arabia reports new missile and drone threats as Riyadh airport stays shut
Two killed and two injured in three-vehicle crash in Sakarya
Doval speaks with Iranian counterpart after ships attacked near Strait of Hormuz
Unexploded munition kills teenager and injures 24 on hike in northern Israel
Houthis warn of retaliation if US joins attacks in Yemen
PKK withdraws from four camps in northern Iraq as peace process advances
Two people killed and two injured in car crash in Bingöl
Riyadh Airport Closure Disrupts Flights as Iran Offers to Mediate
Energy ministers from Declaration of Cooperation countries meet in Riyadh
UK blames Iran for suspected plot at RAF Fairford and sanctions two Iranians
