A missile strike killed 12 people and injured 309 at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport (RUH) on October 10, 2026, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed. The attack forced an immediate suspension of all operations at the airport, with the flight ban later extended until at least midnight on October 12, 2026, Saudi time.

What happened at Terminal 3?

The missile, launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, appears to have scored a direct hit on the airport's Terminal 3. Saudi authorities confirmed that a number of the injured are in critical condition and are receiving treatment at several hospitals in the Saudi capital. Footage reportedly showing the moment of impact and its immediate aftermath has circulated on social media.

The strike is the most severe in a rapid escalation against the airport itself.

• October 10, 2026: direct hit on Terminal 3 kills 12, injures 309.
• Roughly two days earlier: two separate attacks on RUH killed three Saudi nationals, including a Saudia captain.
• The earlier attacks seriously damaged a Saudia Airbus A320-family aircraft parked at one of the airport's gates.
• No passengers were on board the damaged aircraft at the time.

What does the closure mean for operations?

GACA's confirmation of casualties and the suspension of all flights signals a full operational shutdown of the Kingdom's primary international gateway, with no resumption before midnight on October 12 at the earliest. The two-day extension to the flight ban indicates authorities expect sustained damage assessment and security sweeps at the affected terminal before any restart.

The loss of RUH compounds the network disruption already caused by the earlier strikes, which had knocked a Saudia A320-family jet out of service and killed one of the carrier's captains.

Is this part of a wider pattern?

The Riyadh strikes fit a broader campaign against Saudi aviation and energy infrastructure. In the preceding days, Yemen's Houthis launched missile attacks on other Saudi infrastructure, including Abha International Airport (AHB) in the southwest of the country. The group has also threatened to target the Kingdom's vital oil pipelines and export terminals.

The attacks came as Saudi and allied forces launched a counter-offensive against the Houthis, attempting to recover territory the group had seized in a series of recent advances in southwestern Yemen. The tempo of missile launches against airports suggests Saudi air transport infrastructure will remain a primary target as that ground campaign proceeds, with further operational disruption likely at RUH and AHB.