According to an official statement, four of those killed were Saudi nationals. The remaining victims included two Bangladeshi citizens and one national each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the Palestinian territories and Sudan. Several injured people were reported to be in serious condition. Following the attack, authorities suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The civil aviation authority said officials were assessing the damage caused by the strike.

Doctors Called in as Hospitals Face Emergency

Saudi health authorities ordered an unusual, large-scale mobilisation of doctors to handle the growing number of casualties. A medical source described the situation as a “serious emergency situation”, highlighting the pressure on emergency services following the attack. Two doctors told AFP that several pilgrims travelling to Mecca were among those injured in the strike. A passenger who witnessed the incident told AFP that the attack hit the domestic terminal. Describing the terrifying moments, the passenger said, “I was on gate 403,” the witness said. “I saw 401 hit, I saw injured in front of my eyes. Everyone was running.” The attack also prompted several foreign diplomatic missions to issue safety warnings to their citizens. The US, Canadian, German and Spanish embassies urged people to stay away from the airport. A senior Western diplomat told AFP that several embassies had prohibited their staff from using the airport “over the next week”. Meanwhile, passengers carrying their luggage were seen waiting on the pavement near a metro station close to the airport as travel disruptions continued.

Additional Security Incidents Reported Across Saudi Arabia

The security situation remained tense following the Riyadh airport strike. Hours after the attack, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis announced on X that a “projectile” had landed near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Early on Sunday, the coalition reported intercepting a missile southeast of Riyadh, the Saudi capital, raising further concerns about the possibility of additional attacks. The Houthis had claimed responsibility for a series of strikes targeting Riyadh airport on Thursday. Those attacks reportedly killed three people and damaged an aircraft. However, the group had not immediately claimed responsibility for the latest attacks reported on Saturday.

Trump Says US Could Join Saudi Strikes Against Houthis

The latest developments have also raised questions about possible US military involvement in the conflict. Asked on Saturday whether he had reconsidered joining Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthis, US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington had not ruled out the possibility. “We may,” Trump said. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he added, “We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision.” US media reports have previously indicated that Saudi Arabia had sought American military assistance against the Houthis but that earlier requests had been rejected. Trump’s latest remarks suggest that the US administration is considering its options following the recent escalation.

Collapse of Truce Fuels Wider Regional Conflict

The attack comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi movement. Since a truce in Yemen’s prolonged conflict with the Riyadh-backed government broke down in July, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Saudi territory. Their strikes have targeted airports, oil facilities and tankers, marking an unprecedented level of attacks against the kingdom, according to the report. Yemen’s civil war has intensified again following the collapse of a four-year truce brokered by the United Nations. The renewed fighting has unfolded alongside a broader conflict in West Asia that has destabilised the region and disrupted energy supplies and global markets. Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2015. As hostilities increase, the kingdom faces growing security risks from the conflict in its impoverished neighbour.

Attack Comes Ahead of Riyadh’s Major Events Season

The strike also comes at a sensitive time for Saudi Arabia, with the kingdom preparing to begin its high-profile convention and entertainment season this month. Riyadh typically hosts numerous major international gatherings during this period, including its flagship investment conference, which attracts foreign political leaders, senior business executives and investors. The airport attack and subsequent suspension of operations could create further security and logistical challenges as Saudi Arabia prepares to welcome international visitors for these major events.