Passenger terminal at Saudi Arabian capital's airport is struck again, a day after 12 were killed: news

Riyadh Airport Terminal Struck in Second Consecutive Attack After Deadly Missile Strike

A projectile struck a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking the second consecutive strike on the capital’s primary aviation hub within 24 hours. The incident followed a devastating missile attack that killed 12 people and wounded more than 300 others.

Details of the Latest Strike on King Khalid International Airport

According to statements from the Saudi-led coalition, a projectile hit Terminal 4part of the domestic flight terminal complex at King Khalid International Airportsparking a localized fire that airport emergency response teams worked to contain. Coalition defense systems also engaged incoming aerial threats in the airspace surrounding the capital, intercepting at least one cruise missile near the facility.

The second strike occurred while airport infrastructure and rescue teams were still assessing the destruction from the preceding attack, which directly targeted passenger transit areas.

Casualties and Impact of the Previous Day’s Attack

The attack from the prior day resulted in heavy civilian casualties:

• Fatalities: Saudi civil aviation and health authorities confirmed 12 deaths, including four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, and citizens from Egypt, the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Sudan.

  WUSF

• Injuries: Over 300 individuals sustained injuries, with several passengers and airport personnel listed in critical condition.

  AP News

• Operational Disruption: Commercial flight schedules faced extensive disruptions, ground stops, and diversions to regional alternatives, while access roads and passenger check-in halls were placed under heightened security cordons.

  AP News

Escalation and Regional Security Context

Responsibility for the ongoing wave of strikes against Saudi critical infrastructure has been attributed to Yemen’s Houthi militia, who have intensified cross-border drone and ballistic missile launches. The attacks have targeted civilian airports, military installations, and energy facilities following renewed military engagements between coalition forces and the insurgent group.

Diplomatic leaders and international aviation bodies have condemned the deliberate targeting of civilian transport infrastructure, characterizing the strikes on international passenger terminals as severe violations of international humanitarian law.