A U.S. citizen was among those killed. President Trump said Washington is considering whether to join Saudi-led strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
CAIRO — A missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and wounded more than 300, Saudi civil aviation authorities said Sunday. Some of the injured were in critical condition, and officials said 309 people had been hurt.
The strike hit an airport complex serving domestic flights, including terminals 3 and 4, according to a regional official. The dead included four Saudi citizens and nationals of Bangladesh, Palestine, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Sudan. The American death was confirmed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who condemned the attack.
Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority suspended airport operations after the strike. Flights were diverted or canceled, while emergency vehicles responded to the scene. The attack was the latest in a series targeting Riyadh’s airport and other Saudi sites during the past week. Earlier strikes reportedly killed three Saudis and damaged aircraft.
A Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen and vowed a response, describing the strike as a war crime. The airport does not have military facilities, according to the Associated Press. The Houthis had not immediately issued a statement addressing the latest attack.
President Donald Trump said the United States was considering whether to join Saudi strikes against the Houthis. He said Washington would review the situation and make a decision. Trump also said he planned to speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The attack comes as fighting intensifies between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. A Saudi-led coalition recently launched a major offensive against the rebels, while the Houthis have threatened Saudi airspace and claimed earlier attacks on the airport. The renewed violence has deepened concerns about civilian safety and disrupted air travel across the region.
By the Haitian Tribune NewsRoom
