Missile Hits Riyadh Airport Terminal; Dozens Injured, 225+ Flights Cancelled

A missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday wounded dozens of people and forced the suspension of air traffic, marking the third attack on the facility in one week. The projectile struck a passenger terminal, leaving multiple casualties and prompting evacuation of the airport. Witnesses reported hearing explosions and seeing injured passengers; hospital sources indicated five people were in intensive care and dozens more treated for injuries including shattered glass wounds. A regional official confirmed the strike and said air traffic had been halted. At least 225 flights were cancelled over the preceding 24 hours, with major carriers including Kuwait Airways, Air India Express, Air India, Lufthansa Group, FlyDubai, and Pakistan International Airlines suspending services to and from Riyadh for several days. The attack occurred as a Saudi-led military offensive against Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalated in Yemen, following two previous strikes on the airport this week that killed four people and damaged an aircraft. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's attack, though they have claimed earlier strikes. The Saudi government did not confirm the incident, though Canada's embassy warned of ongoing military activity and multiple countries including the US and UK advised citizens to avoid the airport. The escalation reflects a broader conflict in which the Houthis have seized the Bab al-Mandab strait and stated they will not permit Saudi-linked commercial traffic through the waterway. Saudi authorities reported that a UN-recognised Yemeni government offensive had retaken parts of the strait and Perim Island, though accounts of the military situation varied. US President Donald Trump stated he was "not happy" about the attacks but signalled no new military support, while the Saudi and Omani foreign ministers discussed diplomatic de-escalation.