Missile attack on Riyadh Airport once again: All flights cancelled.

Yesterday (10) afternoon, a missile attack was launched on King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Following the attack, airport operations were temporarily suspended, and authorities took steps to evacuate passengers from Terminal Complexes 3 and 4, which handle domestic flights.

Diplomatic and regional sources attribute this attack to Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are supported by Iran.

The attack occurred around 3:00 PM Saudi time (approximately 5:30 PM Sri Lanka time). According to reports, the missile hit near or on Gate No. 401 of Terminal 3. An eyewitness near Gate 403 told AFP: “I saw it hit 401. There were injured people right in front of my eyes. Everyone was running.”

Another injured passenger stated that a section of the ceiling near an exit gate collapsed moments after he saw something flying from the sky. Eyewitnesses described people with shoulder and arm injuries from broken glass shards, injured people lying on the ground, and passengers running in panic. Residents of Riyadh also heard a loud explosion.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of Saudi Arabia confirmed that several people were injured in the attack and announced the suspension of operations until a full assessment of the damage and confirmation of the facilities' safety. Due to a "serious emergency," health authorities urgently called a large number of doctors to duty, and more than a dozen ambulances arrived at the scene.

Hospital sources state that dozens were injured, with five of them receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. Initial reports indicate approximately 45 injured. No deaths have been officially confirmed from this attack. According to some reports, pilgrims en route to Mecca are also among the injured.

All flights bound for Riyadh were diverted to other airports or cancelled. Airlines including Kuwait Airways, Etihad, and Qatar Airways cancelled Riyadh flights, with some extended until Monday. Airport authorities urged passengers to check their flight status with the respective airline before arriving at the airport. Embassies of countries including the USA, Britain, Ireland, Canada, and Germany warned their citizens to stay away from the airport and surrounding areas. It is also reported that Saudi Arabia's early warning system did not issue any alerts before the attack.

The Houthi organization has not yet claimed responsibility for this attack, but it aligns with their pattern of ballistic and cruise missile attacks targeting Saudi airports, military installations, and infrastructure. The Houthis, who declared Saudi airspace a "military operations zone" except for Mecca and Medina, have repeatedly warned airlines to stay out of it.

On October 8, two attacks on Riyadh Airport killed three Saudi nationals, including Saudia Airlines Captain Hamood Ali Alkhalthami, and injured several others. One attack targeted airport facilities, while the other hit a Saudia aircraft parked on the ground. There were no passengers on board at the time, but the aircraft was severely damaged by fire. The Houthis claimed responsibility for those attacks.

Prior to that, on October 6 and 7, attacks on Abha and Riyadh airports killed three civilians and injured approximately 36 people. Attacks also occurred on Jazan and Najran airports, near the Yemeni border.

This wave of attacks intensified after the previous ceasefire broke down and the Saudi-led coalition launched a large military operation against the Houthis in Yemen. Fighting is also taking place in coastal areas and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Although Saudi-led forces stated that several incoming missiles were destroyed mid-air and missile launch sites were attacked, damage and casualties continue due to missile impacts and debris.

When journalists asked if the US would join Saudi attacks against the Houthis after the October 10 attack, US President Donald Trump said: "We might join. We are looking into it. We just learned about this new attack. So we are going to make a decision. We will act very quickly."

Meanwhile, major energy and investment conferences scheduled to be held in Riyadh are reportedly proceeding as planned, based on security assurances. The targeting of a major international civilian airport has been strongly condemned and has raised serious concerns about air safety and the further escalation of the regional conflict.

This is a developing story, and official information regarding the number of injured and the extent of the damage may be updated.