Houthi Strikes on Riyadh Airport Kill 14 as Saudi Coalition Hits Yemen Fuel Sites
The Houthi Riyadh airport attack has killed 14 people, including a Pakistani national, in missile and drone strikes on King Khalid airport — the deadliest assault on Saudi soil in decades. Saudi Arabia has answered with air strikes on Houthi fuel sites in Yemen, while the rebels warned of a “firm and painful response”.
The exchange marks a sharp escalation in a conflict that is now hitting the region’s busiest airports and pushing crude prices above $105 a barrel.
Houthi Riyadh airport attack: what happened
On Saturday, October 10, a missile hit a busy terminal at King Khalid International Airport. Saudi authorities said 13 people were killed and more than 300 wounded, including an American citizen.
A day later, a projectile hit terminals three and four, the domestic terminals. One Pakistani national was killed and 11 others were injured.
The Houthis claimed both strikes and said they also targeted Dammam’s King Fahd airport and Saudi oil facilities. The airport has been hit four times in five days and stays closed, with airlines suspending Riyadh flights.
Casualty figures come from Saudi authorities and Houthi statements and have not been independently confirmed.
Saudi response: fuel sites hit in Yemen
The Saudi-led coalition said it struck fuel facilities in Sanaa, Hodeidah province and Dhamar that it said supported Houthi missile and drone operations.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki al-Maliki released a map identifying a Yemeni oil company facility in Sanaa and told civilians to leave the area before the planned operation. The coalition also said its air defences intercepted and destroyed three drones north of Riyadh.
The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of overnight strikes on its northern border, the western coastline, Kamaran island and Qanawis district, and claimed to have downed a Saudi drone over Saada.
“Firm and painful response”
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned of “a firm and painful response” and told civilians to stay away from King Khalid airport and Saudi Aramco sites.
The warning raises the stakes for international airlines, passengers and the millions of foreign workers in the kingdom. Britain’s Foreign Office has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam and to all Saudi airports except Medina’s.
President Donald Trump condemned the strikes and said Washington was considering military intervention. The US had earlier agreed a ceasefire with the Houthis after a month-long bombing campaign.
Pakistan angle: citizen killed, Shehbaz pledges support
The death of a Pakistani national brings the conflict home. Saudi Arabia hosts hundreds of thousands of Pakistani workers and remains their top destination abroad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged that Islamabad would cooperate with Riyadh in every possible way under their defence agreements, days after he met the Makkah defence alliance chief in Islamabad.
That commitment is not new. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said Pakistan will defend Saudi Arabia against any threat, and the Makkah pact signed earlier this year formalised the arrangement.
Oil markets feel the shock
Brent crude traded above $105 a barrel as the strikes raised fears of disruption to Gulf energy infrastructure. The Houthis say the kingdom’s airports and strategic facilities will stay in their sights.
The spike feeds directly into Pakistan’s fuel bill. Our report on oil prices climbing past $106 on Iran’s Hormuz tactics tracks how regional tensions are already reaching Pakistani pumps.
Diplomacy scrambles to catch up
Turkey’s President Erdogan told the Saudi crown prince that Ankara stands by Riyadh. Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar has been discussing the regional tensions with Oman’s foreign minister in Islamabad.
With the Houthis promising more strikes and the coalition widening its targets, civilians on both sides face dangerous days.
FAQ
How many people died in the Houthi strikes on Riyadh airport?
Saudi authorities reported 13 killed on October 10, a Pakistani national on October 11, and over 300 wounded.
Is Riyadh airport closed?
Yes. Closed since the October 10 strike; the closure was extended.
What was the Saudi response to the Houthi attacks?
It hit fuel sites in Sanaa, Hodeidah and Dhamar and downed three drones north of Riyadh.
Was a Pakistani killed in the Riyadh airport attack?
Yes. Saudi authorities said a Pakistani national was killed and 11 people were injured when a projectile struck terminals three and four on October 11.
Has the US responded to the Houthi strikes?
President Trump condemned the attacks and said Washington was considering military intervention against the Houthis.
