Riyadh airport halts operations following an attack that leaves several people injured

Saudi authorities temporarily suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday after an attack left several people injured.

The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the casualties and said airport operations would remain suspended while officials assessed the damage and checked the safety of the facilities.

A diplomatic source told AFP that a missile struck the airport at around 3pm local time, attributing the attack to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion, seeing injured passengers and witnessing people fleeing in panic from the terminal.

Medical authorities reportedly declared a serious emergency and directed emergency room doctors to report to hospitals across Riyadh to treat the wounded. A hospital source said dozens of people had been injured, with five receiving intensive care at one local hospital.

Witnesses described scenes of panic inside the airport, with some passengers reportedly injured by shattered glass.

Three witnesses confirmed that people were evacuated from the facility, while two doctors told AFP that several pilgrims travelling to Makkah were among those injured.

The incident follows previous Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and other infrastructure. The group had claimed responsibility for a series of strikes on Thursday that reportedly killed three people and damaged an aircraft, although it had not announced a new attack on Saturday.

Saudi authorities said the number of casualties was still being assessed as officials continued to investigate the incident and determine when airport operations could safely resume.