According to Reuters and Al Jazeera, on October 11 local time, the Saudi Civil Aviation Administration stated that on the 10th, King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh was attacked for the third time this week. The attack resulted in at least 12 deaths and 309 injuries. On the 10th, the agency issued a statement stating that it had temporarily suspended operations at the airport.
So far, no one has immediately claimed responsibility for this incident. However, the Houthi movement in Yemen continues to escalate their missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, and they have already declared responsibility for two attacks that occurred earlier this week.
After the attack, a Houla militant spokesman posted an update to his earlier post, saying, “A reminder.” The post read: Only humanitarian flights with prior approval are allowed to land at Riyadh Airport.
Sources familiar with the situation, including two Western officials, warned that the number of casualties has not been finalized. The attack came without any warning, and Saudi threat alert systems did not issue any alerts.
On October 10th, local time, when asked whether the United States planned to join Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Houla militant group, U.S. President Trump said: “We might do so. We will consider it. We have just learned about a recent attack and will make a decision. Our actions are very swift.”
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh confirmed receiving information regarding the attack incident and strongly advised all U.S. citizens to avoid the airport and its surrounding areas.
The British and Irish embassies in Saudi Arabia have both issued statements on social media, stating that a "serious incident" occurred at King Khaled International Airport, and advising their citizens to avoid traveling to the airport. The Canadian embassy indicated that "continuous military operations" have affected the operation of the airport.
On October 10, the WeChat public account “China Embassy in Saudi Arabia” issued a statement stating that tensions in the region have escalated, with airports and other facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, being attacked multiple times. The Chinese diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia are reminding Chinese enterprises and citizens living in Saudi Arabia to pay attention to safety and to comply with local laws and regulations. In case of emergencies, please report to the police promptly and contact the Chinese diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia.
On the 11th, the ‘Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia’ issued a statement stating that Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese citizens in Saudi Arabia should enhance their security measures.
It was mentioned that the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement on the same day, confirming that the attack on King Fahd International Airport in Riyadh on the afternoon of the 10th resulted in 12 deaths and 309 injuries. The victims included citizens from several countries; there are currently no reports of casualties among Chinese citizens. Saudian officials reported that airports such as Damman also came under attack on the night of the 10th. King Fahd International Airport remains closed, and widespread anomalies have been reported at many airports across the country.
The Chinese embassies and consulates in Saudi Arabia once again remind Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese citizens to firmly establish a risk prevention awareness, reduce unnecessary outings, remain calm, and ensure personal safety. Passengers planning to travel by plane should maintain close contact with the relevant airlines to avoid any disruptions in their itineraries. Chinese citizens planning to transfer in Saudi Arabia should carefully consider the current aviation situation there. It is essential to strictly comply with local laws and regulations, and not to take, publish, or spread any photos or videos related to Saudi government agencies and military units, foreign embassies and consulates, military activities, or attacks.
