Saudi Airport Attack Kills 13, Injures 300 as Houthis Threaten US

Saudi Arabia has extended the closure of Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport following a series of deadly drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, marking one of the worst disruptions to Saudi aviation in years [260906].

The Saturday strike on King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300 others, according to Saudi civil aviation authorities [260906][259584]. Among the dead was an American citizen [259671]. The attack targeted terminals 3 and 4, which handle domestic flights, a regional official said [259584].

A Saudi-led coalition blamed the attack on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen [259584]. The coalition said Monday it intercepted additional drones and missiles fired toward the kingdom [260648].

The strike was the deadliest attack on any Gulf country since the United States and Israel launched their war on Iran in February [260490]. It shattered years of relative calm in the region and raised serious questions about security in Riyadh, a city that hosts major international business events [260190].

The Houthis are a political and armed movement that controls large parts of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. They have fought the Saudi-backed Yemeni government since 2014 [260768]. After four years of calm, war returned to Yemen on October 4 when the Saudi-led military coalition announced a full-scale campaign against the Houthi militia, saying its goal is to "eliminate" the group [260768].

A Houthi official on Monday warned the United States of a "painful response" if it enters the war in Yemen [260898]. The warning came as Saudi Arabia reportedly asked Washington for help against the Houthi group [260898]. President Donald Trump is evaluating whether the United States should join Saudi strikes against the Houthis [259584].

The United Nations renewed its condemnation Monday of the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and warned that military escalation in Yemen is harming civilians and infrastructure, especially in Taiz province [260582].

The airport closure has disrupted international travel. EgyptAir suspended all flights from Cairo and Alexandria to Riyadh until the airport resumes operations [259974]. The Federal Aviation Administration issued a safety warning for U.S. airlines flying over Saudi Arabia [260642]. Delta Air Lines is considering launching a new route on October 23 despite the warning [260642].

Major oil companies including BP pulled out of a World Petroleum Council meeting in Riyadh following the attack [260190]. Other companies are expected to follow [260190].

Following the strikes, many videos and photos appeared on social media claiming to show the attacks. However, the footage is either AI-generated or taken from other events [260893].

A Saudi-led coalition airstrike also struck Sanaa International Airport on Tuesday, according to Houthi-run media. The Houthi-controlled outlet reported the strike but gave no immediate details on casualties or damage [259896].