ع
Saudi authorities reported that a missile struck terminals 3 and 4 at King Khalid International Airport in the capital on October 10 killing 13 people and wounding more than 300 with some victims left in critical condition. The dead included four Saudi citizens two Bangladeshis and one national each from the United States Egypt Jordan Palestine Syria Sudan and India the General Authority of Civil Aviation stated. Ambulances responded quickly to the scene while health officials activated a mass call-up of doctors to manage the emergency at multiple hospitals.
CCTV footage released by the Saudi Media Ministry captured travelers waiting in the terminal when a bright flash erupted followed by the ceiling collapsing. Passengers ran for safety with many covering their heads as dust filled the air and debris crashed around them. Airport workers were seen cowering under desks in the video that Al Arabiya television obtained and distributed widely.
Houthi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Saree said in a statement that his group carried out the strike using a combination of ballistic cruise missiles and drones targeting the airport. He warned airlines and passengers against using Saudi airports or airspace while vowing to continue escalating operations deep inside Saudi Arabia with all airports potential targets except those in Mecca and Medina. The Houthis described the action as retaliation for recent Saudi airstrikes in Yemen that they said caused civilian deaths including women and children.
The October 10 strike formed part of repeated attacks on the airport that week with assaults on October 8 and 9 killing at least six additional people including a pilot according to the Saudi civil aviation authority. A further projectile hit Terminal 4 on Sunday causing a fire that killed one more person and injured 11 others the Saudi-led coalition reported. These events represent the deadliest attacks in a Gulf Arab nation since the start of the Iran war a diplomatic source told AFP.
King Khalid International Airport has remained closed since the main strike with Saudi officials confirming the suspension of operations and the cancellation of more than 600 flights nationwide. The disruption has affected domestic routes international connections and pilgrims traveling to holy sites in the kingdom. Foreign embassies issued advisories urging citizens to steer clear of the facility while damage assessments continued.
An assessment published by Asia Times found that the assault involved a saturation attack with Burkan ballistic missiles Quds cruise missiles and Samad-3 drones that exposed gaps in Saudi air defenses despite years of investment in systems such as Patriots. The 45-minute operation focused initially on gates 401 to 403 causing the bulk of casualties and structural damage. This escalation follows Houthi public warnings earlier in the week that they intended to shut down the airport in response to intensified Saudi air campaigns in Yemen.
