Missile attack on Riyadh airport: “At least 12 dead and 309 injured”. Trump considers military intervention against the Houthis

A missile hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, causing at least 12 deaths and 309 injuries, some of them in critical condition. The attack occurred on the afternoon of Saturday 10 October …

Jack Williams

Written by: Jack Williams

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Missile attack on Riyadh airport: "At least 12 dead and 309 injured". Trump considers military intervention against the Houthis

A missile hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, causing at least 12 deaths and 309 injuries, some of them in critical condition. The attack occurred on the afternoon of Saturday 10 October and forced the authorities to suspend the airport’s operations, evacuate passengers and divert flights.

The victims included four Saudi citizens and eight foreigners: two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. There are no Italian citizens in the list of victims communicated by the Saudi authorities. The Saudi Arabia-led military coalition blames the attack on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels and vowed that it will “firmly respond to this terrorist attack.”

The missile on Riyadh airport: what happened to the terminals

The explosion hit the area of ​​the airport intended for national connections. According to a regional official quoted byAssociated Pressthe missile reached the complex that houses terminals 3 and 4. Witnesses said they heard a loud bang, followed by panic among passengers. A traveler who was in the departure area reported toAfp: “I saw gate 401 hit and people injured before my eyes. Everyone was running.”

Another injured passenger told Reuters that he saw an object cross the sky before a part of the ceiling near a gate gave way. Numerous ambulances arrived on site and helicopters were also deployed for rescue operations.

Riyadh airport closed: canceled flights and risk for those who have to leave

After the October 10 attack, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority ordered a temporary suspension of operations to allow for security checks. Incoming flights were diverted to other airports, while numerous connections were cancelled.

It is not yet possible to indicate a certain time for the complete resumption of operations. Passengers are advised to contact the airline directly before reaching the airport. The cancellations had already begun in the previous days. Lufthansa has announced the suspension of connections with Riyadh until October 16, while other international companies, including Etihad and Flydubai, have canceled several flights.

The risk to air transport was also recognized by the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa), which updated its bulletin on conflict areas on 9 October. The Agency advises operators not to fly in certain portions of Saudi airspace, at any altitude, and to exercise particular caution in the rest of the region due to probable missile and drone attacks, as well as the activation of anti-aircraft defenses.

The Farnesina: what Italians should do in Saudi Arabia

The Italian Foreign Ministry also intervened after the new bombing. Minister Antonio Tajani expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The Farnesina recommends “compatriots to avoid non-essential travel to the Riyadh airport area and to use the airport for arrivals/departures”. Already in the October 8 notice published on the Safe Travel portal, the ministry reported the intensification of the Houthi attacks and recommended postponing non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia.

For Italians already present in the country, the indications are to check the operations of the airports, prepare for any changes to the itinerary and consider the possibility of a longer stay than expected. For consular emergencies, the Italian Embassy in Riyadh provides the contact number +966 505254792. Updates are also available on the Viaggiare Sicuri portal.

Not just Riyadh: attack near Dammam airport and another missile intercepted

The offensive was not limited to the capital. On Saturday evening the Saudi coalition announced that a projectile fell near the King Fahd international airport in Dammam, in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Dammam airport was also used as a possible alternative to Riyadh for some connections. The report of the bomb falling in its vicinity, however, does not equate to confirmation of damage to the terminals.

In the following hours, the coalition also reported that it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile attributed to the Houthis in the Al-Kharj area, south-east of Riyadh, where the Prince Sultan air base is located.

Why the Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia

The October 10 attack is the third to hit Riyadh airport within a week. On Thursday 8 October, two previous bombings had caused the death of three Saudi citizens, including a pilot of the national company Saudia, and damaged a plane parked at the airport.

The Houthis, the armed movement that controls the Yemeni capital Sanaa, have intensified missile and drone launches against Saudi Arabia’s airport, energy and military infrastructure. The new escalation comes as forces of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by the Saudi coalition, conduct an offensive against the Houthis to retake positions in the area of ​​the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the strategic sea passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

The rebels have announced that they consider Saudi airspace a zone of military operations, threatening commercial links. The Saudi coalition responded with bombings of military positions and launch pads in Yemen.

Trump considers military intervention

US President Donald Trump, speaking to journalists outside the White House, was asked about the possibility of Washington joining the Saudi attacks against the Houthis. “We could do it.
We will evaluate the situation. We just learned about the recent attack, so we will make a decision. Let’s act very quickly,” he said. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, saying they “demonstrate a blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians.”

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also denounced the bombing, reiterating the need to stop attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

The Houthis threaten: “Do not use Saudi airports”

The Houthis have warned passengers against using Saudi airports. “The Yemeni military renews its warning to all airlines, staff, workers and travelers against using Saudi airports and airspace,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on X.

“The airports and airspace are exposed to possible attacks and constitute an operational theater for our forces, with the exception of the airports in Mecca and Medina,” he added.

Meloni: “I strongly condemn the Houthi attacks”

“I firmly condemn the Houthi attacks that hit Riyadh airport. I am close to Saudi Arabia and the families of the victims and I wish the injured a speedy recovery”, Giorgia Meloni’s statement on the matter. “Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are unacceptable and must stop – he continues – Italy will continue to work with partners in the Region to reduce tensions and promote stability and freedom of navigation in the area”.

Jack Williams

Jack Williams

Jack Williams established himself as the editor-in-chief of The Vermilion with rigorous journalistic traits and an incessant quest for truth. His career began as an investigative reporter, where he quickly gained a reputation for his in-depth research and insightful articles. Williams takes his role at The Vermilion very seriously. Since he became editor-in-chief, he has set an editorial line based on impartiality, factual accuracy, and context relevance; this has established The Vermilion as a reference for political, economic, and global news. Under his leadership, the media continues its mission of reporting news with accuracy and equanimity, giving a voice to those who are often overlooked by large-scale media. Jack dedicates himself to fulfilling this mandate with passion, rigour, and unwavering determination.

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