A Houthi missile strike on a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, 10 October killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen vowed on Sunday to respond firmly, calling the strike a war crime under international humanitarian law.

Details of the Attack and Casualties

The strike targeted the airport's passenger terminal on Saturday afternoon, temporarily forcing a suspension of flight operations pending damage assessments and safety checks, the civil aviation authority said. Among the 12 fatalities, four were Saudi citizens and eight were foreign residents — including two Bangladeshi nationals and one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan. The 309 injured are receiving treatment at multiple hospitals, with some reported to be in serious condition.

Coalition's Strong Warning

Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Malki issued a statement on his official account on X describing the attack as 'a heinous act that violates humanitarian principles, values and morals.' Al-Malki said the strike constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law and its customary rules, and stressed that the coalition's Joint Forces Command would respond firmly to what he characterised as a 'terrorist attack' in full accordance with international humanitarian law. The statement marks one of the coalition's sharpest public warnings in recent months, as Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi group have continued exchanging strikes on major airports.

India Condemns the Strike, Calls for Ceasefire

New Delhi moved swiftly to condemn the attack, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia in defence of its sovereignty. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a formal statement saying, 'We strongly condemn the repeated attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport over the past few days, including the dastardly attack on October 10, which have led to loss of lives, injuries and damage to property.' The MEA extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished speedy recovery to the injured. The statement added that 'repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately,' urging a return to peace and normalcy in the region at the earliest.

Broader Context: Escalating Airport Strikes

This is not an isolated incident — Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement have been locked in an escalating exchange of cross-border strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including airports, for several years. The Yemen conflict, now in its second decade, has drawn in a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. Houthi attacks on Riyadh have periodically intensified during diplomatic deadlocks, and strikes on civilian aviation infrastructure represent a particularly sensitive escalation given the potential for mass civilian casualties. Notably, the involvement of foreign nationals among the dead — from seven countries — underscores the international dimension of the toll exacted by such strikes. The attack also comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, adding pressure on diplomatic channels that have sought, with limited success, to broker a durable ceasefire.

What Happens Next

The coalition's vow of a 'firm response' signals the likelihood of retaliatory strikes in Yemen, raising humanitarian concerns from international observers. Airport operations at King Khalid International Airport remained subject to safety reviews as of Sunday. India's call for an immediate cessation of hostilities reflects a broader international consensus, though a concrete diplomatic pathway remains elusive. The situation is expected to remain volatile in the coming days.