Saudi Arabia's capital, Riyadh, International Airport was attacked again by missiles, resulting in at least 12 deaths and 309 injuries, including one American citizen. U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo strongly condemned the attack. President Trump said he is considering whether to directly participate in Saudi Arabia's military actions against the Houthi forces in Yemen.
According to reports by Reuters, Associated Press, and the Financial Times on October 10, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked that day. The victims included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi citizens, as well as one citizen from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. Some of the injured are in critical condition.
A local official revealed that the missile hit the areas where Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, used for domestic flights at the airport, were located. Witnesses said that an explosion was heard inside the airport during the attack. The ceilings of some waiting areas collapsed, and several passengers were injured and fell to the ground. A large number of ambulances rushed to the scene afterwards.
The attack caused airport operations to be suspended, with many flights being canceled or rerouted. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh issued a safety warning, urging American citizens to avoid the airport and its surrounding areas.
This is the third attack on Riyadh International Airport in a week. The previous two attacks resulted in the death of 4 people and caused damage to civil aviation aircraft parked at the airport.
U.S. Secretary of State Rubio subsequently confirmed on social media that a U.S. citizen was killed in the attack and expressed strong condemnation of the attack.
These unprovoked attacks on civilians must be immediately halted. Rubio stated this.
As American citizens lose their lives, there is concern about whether Washington will get involved further in regional conflicts.
On the 10th, Trump was asked by reporters outside the White House whether the United States might join Saudi Arabia in launching military strikes against the Houthi forces. He replied, "It's possible. We will consider it. We have just learned about this recent attack, so we will make a decision. Our actions are very swift."
Saudi-led multinational forces attribute the attack to the Houthi forces supported by Iran. They claim that the attack on a civilian airport constitutes a “flagrant war crime” and vow to respond accordingly.
According to a latest report by Reuters, Houthi militants later claimed responsibility for the attacks. The organization has recently carried out multiple attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities, and other targets, and has warned airlines to avoid using Saudi airspace.
This escalation of conflict is closely related to the renewed intensification of the Yemen war.
In 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of countries to intervene in the Yemen civil war, supporting the Yemeni government in fighting the Houthi armed forces. A ceasefire was reached between the two sides in 2022, but as the situation deteriorated this summer, the ceasefire gradually fell apart.
Recently, the Houthi militia has made progress along the Red Sea coast, taking control of parts of the strategically important Strait of Mandeb. The Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched a new offensive this week, attempting to reclaim the relevant areas, with Saudi Arabia providing air support.
The Houthi militia then increased their attacks on airports and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, leading to a new round of military confrontation between the two sides.
The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are connected by the Cape of Good Hope, which is a crucial maritime trade route in the world. Against the backdrop of ongoing military actions by the US and Israel against Iran, and the security risks faced by several shipping routes in the Middle East, the escalation of conflicts in Yemen has further exacerbated tensions in the region.
The attack at Riyadh Airport has been regarded by many international media as one of the most severe attacks suffered by Gulf Arab countries since the outbreak of the Iran war. With the death of American citizens in the attack, whether the Trump administration will directly participate in military operations against the Houla militia has become a focus of attention in the next step.
