Riyadh Airport Attack Leaves 12 Dead, 309 Wounded, Saudi Officials Say
The third Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in a week killed at least 12 people and wounded 309, Saudi aviation officials said. A projectile also fell near a second Saudi airport.
At least 12 people were killed and 309 wounded on Saturday when a missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority confirmed the toll. It was the third attack on the airport in a week.
The strike came without warning. Two Western officials briefed on the attack told CNN the kingdom's threat-warning system sent out no alert. An eyewitness described an explosion, then people lying injured on the ground inside the terminal. More than a dozen ambulances rushed to the airport.
The wounded were taken to hospitals by ambulance and helicopter. Some were in critical condition, the officials said. They warned the toll was not final.
The New York Post, citing officials briefed on the strike, called it the deadliest attack in a Gulf Arab country since the war in Iran began in February.
All flights to the airport were diverted or canceled. Flight-tracking site Flightradar24 showed arrivals canceled or diverted across the board. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways canceled multiple flights into Monday. Kuwait Airways canceled its Riyadh flights, citing the security situation.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh urged American citizens to avoid the airport and the area around it. Britain, Ireland and Canada issued similar warnings.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Saturday's strike. The Houthis claimed the two earlier attacks on the airport this week. Thursday's strike killed three people, including a pilot for flag carrier Saudia, and destroyed a passenger jet.
The Saudi-led coalition said a projectile also fell near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The airport in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region had become an alternative for diverted flights.
President Trump said Saturday the United States could join Saudi strikes on the Houthis. “We may. We’re going to look at it,” he told reporters outside the White House. “We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.”
