Missile Strike Hits Riyadh Airport Terminal, Wounding Civilians

A missile struck a domestic passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, injuring multiple people and prompting an evacuation as attacks on the kingdom's aviation and military infrastructure intensified. Two regional officials confirmed the incident, while Saudi civil aviation authorities suspended airport operations and began assessing casualties and damage. One regional official told The Associated Press that the missile hit a complex housing terminals 3 and 4, which serve domestic flights.

The officials spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to comment publicly. Ambulances rushed to the airport following the strike. Saudi authorities reported that airport operations had been halted while officials evaluated the number of injured people and the extent of the damage.

Police maintained a heavy presence, blocked all entrances and reduced lighting around the affected complex.

The latest attack followed several days of strikes targeting Saudi airports, military installations and oil infrastructure. The escalation began during the week after a Saudi-led coalition launched a major military offensive against Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. The Houthis had claimed responsibility for attacks on Saudi targets, although they had not issued an immediate statement about Saturday's strike.

President Donald Trump said the United States was considering whether to join Saudi military operations against the Iran-backed Houthis. Speaking to reporters, Trump indicated that Washington had only recently learned of the latest incident and would make a decision quickly. “We may. We’re going to look at it,” Trump said.

Trump also said the administration would assess the latest attack before deciding on further action. The United States has provided intelligence sharing, target identification and planning assistance for the latest Saudi-led offensive, according to officials. The attacks have disrupted commercial aviation and raised security concerns across the region. Flight-tracking service FlightAware recorded at least 225 cancellations at Riyadh airport over the preceding 24 hours, while Flightradar24 reported that flights had been diverted to other destinations.

Air India, FlyDubai, Lufthansa Group and Pakistan International Airlines were among the carriers suspending flights to Riyadh and other Saudi airports for several days. The United States, Britain, Germany, Australia and Canada also advised their citizens to avoid the airport. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, citing the Houthis' ability to strike deeper into the kingdom and an increased focus on aviation infrastructure.

The agency warned that missile and drone attacks, combined with interception operations, could raise the risk of civilian aircraft being misidentified. Saudi Arabia's national carrier said an aircraft was damaged on the ground during an attack on Thursday. No passengers were aboard at the time.

The wider conflict has intensified as the Saudi-led coalition provides air support to Yemeni government forces fighting the Houthis. The operation aims to reverse recent Houthi advances along the Red Sea, where control of shipping routes has become increasingly significant amid attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis have told The Associated Press and other outlets that their targets include Saudi shipping as part of a blockade imposed in retaliation for restrictions against them. However, concerns remain over the potential for broader attacks, particularly after the group previously targeted vessels following the outbreak of the war in Gaza, describing those operations as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians. Regional officials told The Associated Press last month that Saudi Arabia was running low on missile interceptors and had requested air defense assistance from France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt.

One official also said the United States had experienced a decline in its own interceptor stockpile during the war with Iran. Diplomatic efforts continued alongside the military escalation. Saudi Arabia said its foreign minister and Oman's foreign minister discussed the importance of “supporting diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions” during a phone call on Saturday.

Saudi authorities also warned the public against sharing information about missile and drone interceptions or impact sites, saying such activity could carry legal consequences. Earlier in the week, the Houthis warned international airlines against operating in Saudi airspace, describing the kingdom's airspace as a theater for their military operations.