12 dead and hundreds injured in the Riyadh airport attack and the suspension of in-person classes starting today, and Trump hints at a response.
Quick Look
The death toll from an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh rose to 12 dead and 309 injured, including four Saudis and eight residents of different nationalities, with Arab and international condemnations, a temporary suspension of operations at the airport, the transfer of schools in Riyadh to distance learning, the cancellation of flights, and warnings from Western embassies to their citizens.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
This attack comes in the context of an escalation in attacks on Saudi airports, days after the Saudi-led military coalition announced the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile launched by the Ansar Allah group in Al-Kharj Governorate, and a projectile landed in the vicinity of King Fahd International Airport in Dammam.
Published 11 October 2026, 02:03 GMT
Last updated 3 minutes ago
Reading time: 3 minutes
The death toll from an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh rose on Saturday to 12 dead and 309 injured, amid Arab and international condemnations and an escalation of attacks on Saudi airports.
Schools in Riyadh moved to the distance education system as of Sunday, following the bloody attack that targeted the airport in the Saudi capital on Saturday, according to a letter addressed to parents and seen by Agence France-Presse.
The email stated that, in line with the directives of the Ministry of Education, all schools in Riyadh will move to distance learning throughout the week. This is the second time such a measure has been taken in the capital in less than a month.
The Saudi-led military coalition announced the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile launched by the Ansar Allah group in Al-Kharj Governorate, hours after it announced that a projectile had fallen in the vicinity of King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, east of the Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced the killing of 12 people, including four Saudis and eight residents of different nationalities, and the injury of 309 others, some of whom are in critical conditions, as a result of the attack on King Khalid International Airport on Saturday afternoon.
The authority added that the attack caused material damage, which is being assessed, after it announced the temporary suspension of operational operations at the airport.
The Ansar Allah Houthi group had called on airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a “military operations area,” after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an attack on the group on Monday.
US President Donald Trump described the attack as "unacceptable" and said that he would speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
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Trump had said in previous statements that he would make a “quick” decision regarding the possibility of the United States joining Saudi Arabia in launching strikes against the Ansar Allah group in Yemen.
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The United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, condemned the attacks launched by the group on Saudi civilian facilities, considering that they represent a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and complicates peace efforts in Yemen, calling on the group to stop them and respect international humanitarian law.
The attack also sparked condemnations from Arab and foreign countries, including Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Palestine, Lebanon, and Britain, in addition to the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other regional organizations, which affirmed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia and called for the protection of civilian facilities and the safety of air navigation.
The attack led to disruptions in air traffic, as Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Kuwait Airways canceled flights to and from Riyadh, while Western embassies, including American, British, Canadian, German, and Spanish, warned their nationals against heading to the airport.
The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority reported receiving reports from ship captains regarding radio instructions to leave their anchorage sites near Ras Al Khaimah in the Emirates, without providing details of their reasons.
Doctors were called to hospitals in Riyadh on Saturday to deal with a “serious emergency,” according to what a medical source told AFP.
The source said: “Emergency doctors are being called to hospitals across Riyadh... We have been informed that we are dealing with a serious emergency,” adding, “The injured are being transported to hospitals across Riyadh, and many of them are in critical conditions.”
Western embassies in Saudi Arabia call on their nationals to stay away from Riyadh Airport
On Saturday, the embassies of Canada, Germany and Spain in Saudi Arabia called on their citizens to stay away from Riyadh International Airport, following reports that it had been attacked.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
King Khalid International Airport will resume operations within a week to ten days after damage assessment and security measures are completed.
Likely · Within weeks
Schools in Riyadh will continue with a remote learning system for at least the next week, with a possible extension if security threats continue.
Very likely · Within weeks
Diplomatic and military pressure will increase on the Ansar Allah Houthi group to stop attacks on civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What is the identity of the exact perpetrators of the attack on King Khalid International Airport?
- What type of weapon was used in the attack and how accurately was it targeted?
- What is the exact physical damage to the airport and when will operations resume?
- Will this attack lead to a direct Saudi military response to the Ansar Allah group in Yemen?
