Houthis rattle Saudi Arabia: 12 killed, 309 injured in attack on Riyadh Airport

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has confirmed that 12 people were killed in an attack by Houthi rebels on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. 309 people were injured in the attack. The incident, which happened yesterday, is reportedly the largest attack on Saudi Arabia since the conflict in the Middle East began in February.

Among those killed were four Saudi nationals and two Bangladeshi nationals. The victims also included one each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. Authorities said some of the injured are in a critical condition. An assessment of the damages caused to the airport is underway.

Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the military coalition, said the attack on the airport's passenger terminal had resulted in deaths and injuries among ordinary travellers and airport staff. He also accused the attackers of committing a war crime by targeting the airport.

Following the attack on Riyadh, the Houthis also reportedly launched an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Saudi fighter jets are said to have carried out retaliatory strikes.
Foreign embassies in Saudi Arabia have advised their citizens to stay away from the airport. The British Foreign Office has also urged its citizens to avoid the area until the airport's security is ensured.

In view of the security situation, several airlines, including Kuwait Airways, cancelled flights to and from Riyadh. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 also reported that flights bound for Riyadh had been diverted or cancelled.