One Pakistani resident was killed and 11 people were injured after an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

 

One dead and 11 injured in fourth attack this week on Riyadh international airport

One Pakistani resident was killed and 11 people were injured after an unidentified projectile struck Terminal 4 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

The incident on Sunday, October 11, 2026, sparked a fire in one of the passenger halls and marks the fourth strike on the airport in a single week amid a severe escalation in fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Key Details of the Escalation

• The Toll of the Attacks: The Sunday strike occurred less than 24 hours after a devastating mass-casualty missile and drone attack at the same airport on Saturday, which killed 13 people and injured over 300 others of multiple nationalities (including Saudi, American, Bangladeshi, Indian, Egyptian, and Syrian citizens). Earlier in the week, two initial strikes on the airport killed three Saudi nationals.
• Houthi Responsibility: The Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the entire wave of operations, stating they deployed a mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The group also targeted eastern Saudi Arabia's Dammam airport and state-owned Saudi Aramco oil facilities.
• Operational Disruption: Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) temporarily suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport, causing widespread flight diversions and severe travel chaos across the Gulf region.
• Global and Economic Impact: The Houthis issued an explicit warning advising commercial airlines and passengers to completely avoid Saudi airspace. The repeated infrastructure strikes have disrupted local oil flows and driven up global oil prices just ahead of the World Petroleum Congress scheduled in Riyadh.
• Potential International Response: Labeling the attacks a "fully-fledged war crime," the Saudi-led coalition has vowed a firm response. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has urged extreme caution for travelers, and the American president raised the possibility of the U.S. joining a cooperative military response to deter the Houthi forces