Saudi Arabia: Attacks claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh have killed 14 people and injured hundreds, according to reports published on October 11 and 12.
The attacks on Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, have triggered international condemnation and widespread flight disruptions. Countries including the UAE, the United States and Egypt have criticised the strikes, while airlines such as flydubai and Etihad Airways have extended cancellations to Saudi destinations.
Here is what is known so far about the victims and those injured.
Fatalities and Injuries
Saturday’s attack killed 13 people, while Sunday’s strikes claimed one additional life. Authorities had not released full details about those injured in Sunday’s incident at the time of the report.
Saudi Arabia
Maryam Al Ibrahim Al Abdulrahman Al Namlah was among those killed in Saturday’s attack. Her family identified her in a post on X, saying she had reportedly been travelling to the holy city of Madinah.
Funeral prayers are scheduled for Tuesday at Riyadh’s Al Rajhi Mosque following the Asr prayer, according to the family.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh confirmed that two of its nationals were among those killed. The government strongly condemned the attack and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
The Bangladeshi mission in Riyadh said it was coordinating with Saudi authorities to obtain information about Bangladeshi victims and injured nationals and arrange assistance for those affected.
Egypt
Egyptian flight attendant Azza Ramzi Mohamed Hassan, 28, died from injuries sustained in Saturday’s attack, according to Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad.
Hassan was from Egypt’s Beheira governorate. Following directives from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty instructed Egyptian diplomatic officials in Riyadh to contact her family and expedite arrangements to repatriate her body.
Egyptian officials also visited five injured Egyptian nationals in hospital to check on their condition and ensure they received the necessary medical care.
India
The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that an Indian national injured in Saturday’s attack had died. The embassy had earlier reported that 11 Indian nationals were injured.
The deceased was identified as Yousuf Sahab, a resident of Hyderabad, by Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and a Hyderabad MP.
Owaisi said one of Sahab’s sons was undergoing knee surgery, while another had been hospitalised after losing three toes in the attack. Sahab’s wife and daughter were safe, while the family’s aunt had sustained head injuries but was out of danger, he said.
Owaisi added that he was in contact with the family’s relatives in Riyadh and had received assurances from India’s Deputy Chief of Mission that assistance was being provided. He also urged External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to ensure the family received all possible support.
The family is from Mehdipatnam in Hyderabad, according to Owaisi.
Jordan
One Jordanian national was killed, Jordan’s news agency Petra reported, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry spokesperson Foad Al Majali said four Jordanians were injured. Two men had been discharged from hospital, while two women remained under treatment.
Authorities were working to repatriate the deceased person’s body to Jordan.
Pakistan
One Pakistani resident was killed in Sunday’s attack, while six Pakistani nationals were injured on Saturday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He said Pakistan’s embassy in Riyadh was coordinating with Saudi authorities and assisting affected families.
Palestine
Palestinian national Talal Al Dani was killed in Saturday’s attack.
The Palestinian Embassy in Saudi Arabia was handling procedures related to his body and providing support and care to his family, according to a statement from the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.
Philippines
Two Filipino nationals remained in intensive care at a hospital in Riyadh following the attack, Philippine Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said on Sunday.
Teams from the Migrant Workers Office and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration were monitoring their condition and providing assistance. Cacdac said no Filipino nationals had died in the incident.
What Is Behind the Houthi-Saudi Conflict?
The Houthis are engaged in a conflict with Yemen’s internationally backed government, which receives support from a Saudi-led coalition.
According to the report, the latest escalation followed the Houthis’ seizure of strategic territory along Yemen’s Red Sea coast last month. Yemen’s government and the coalition subsequently announced a large-scale operation to regain the territory.
On Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed more than 100 Houthi targets. The Houthis, meanwhile, claimed Saudi Arabia had carried out 124 air strikes in Yemen over the preceding 24 hours and threatened further violence if the strikes continued.
The group claimed responsibility for the attacks on Saudi airports on Saturday and Sunday. It had also previously warned airport workers and airlines against using Saudi airports.
Flight Disruptions Across Saudi Arabia
The attacks and temporary suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport have disrupted air travel to and from Riyadh.
Flight schedule data compiled by Cirium, as of 5.30am UAE time on Monday, showed that more than one-third of scheduled departures had been cancelled or marked as no-fly.
Dubai-based flydubai suspended flights to Riyadh until October 14, while Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways cancelled services amid the regional disruption. Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways also reported affected flights, while Kuwait Airways cancelled services KU775 from Kuwait to Riyadh and KU776 from Riyadh to Kuwait.
Passengers have been advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight information, as further cancellations and schedule changes remain possible.
