Riyadh Airport Halts Operations After Fresh Attack Leaves Several Injured

Saudi Arabia's main gateway to its capital went dark on Saturday evening after a fresh attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh left several people injured and forced aviation authorities to suspend all operations. It is the third time in four days the airport has come under fire, a sharp escalation in a regional conflict that has now reached the heart of the kingdom.

What Saudi authorities have said

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) described the incident as the latest in a series of deliberate attacks on civil aviation facilities in the kingdom. It said a number of people were hurt and that the final count was still being compiled. Operations at the airport have been paused until damage is fully assessed and the safety of its facilities is verified.

A medical official in Riyadh told AFP that doctors had been called in to hospitals across the city to handle what was described as a serious emergency, and that many of the casualties had severe injuries. An eyewitness quoted by Reuters described an explosion followed by several people lying hurt inside the airport. A regional official cited by the Associated Press, via Israeli outlet Ynet, said a missile struck the complex housing Terminals 3 and 4, which handle domestic flights.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. However, the strike follows a run of missile attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement against Saudi targets. On Thursday, an attack on the same airport claimed by the Houthis killed three people, including a pilot for the national carrier Saudia. A day earlier, a separate strike killed a Sudanese national.

Flights diverted, travellers told to stay away

Flight-tracking data showed every flight bound for Riyadh had been either diverted or cancelled after the attack. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry asked citizens stranded abroad by the disruption to contact the kingdom's diplomatic missions in the countries where they are stuck.

The US Embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert confirming it was aware of attacks on the airport on October 10. It urged American citizens to avoid the airport and its surroundings, warned of possible airspace closures and cancellations, and said US government staff now need special permission to use the facility.

Washington weighs its next step

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, President Donald Trump said the United States would decide whether to join Saudi Arabia in striking the Houthis in Yemen, adding that his administration had only just learned of the latest attack and would move quickly. A Saudi-led coalition spokesman said on Friday that the coalition was working to dismantle the Houthis' ballistic missile network.

The attacks come against the backdrop of the wider US-Iran war, which has already disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and kept energy prices elevated.

Why it matters for India

Saudi Arabia is home to one of the largest Indian expatriate communities in the world, and Riyadh is a busy route for Indian carriers. After the midweek strikes, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh advised Indian nationals to stay alert, remain indoors when needed and follow local instructions. It also shared the toll-free helpline of the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (800 247 1234). Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo had already suspended Riyadh services until October 10. Saturday's shutdown makes it more likely that those suspensions will be extended. Travellers should check with their airlines before heading to the airport.

Any further escalation in the Gulf also matters for India's fuel import bill, given how much of the country's crude comes from the region.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.