Riyadh Airport Attack: 12 Killed, 309 Injured as Trump Calls Houthi Strike Terrible

Riyadh: At least 12 people were killed and 309 injured in the third attack on Saturday at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. According to Saudi officials, Iran-backed Yemen's Houthi rebels have taken responsibility for the attack. The continuous attacks on the airport within a week have further increased the tension in the area. The injured were taken to hospital via ambulances and helicopters. The condition of many people is said to be critical.

Citizens of which countries died in the attack?

According to the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority, the dead included four Saudi nationals and two Bangladeshi nationals. Apart from this, one citizen each from America, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt has died. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly condemned the attack, saying that an American citizen was also among the dead. He expressed concern over the loss of innocent lives and demanded an immediate stop to the attacks.

Why were flights stopped at Riyadh airport?

Following the attack, operations at Riyadh Airport were temporarily halted due to security concerns. Flights arriving at the airport were diverted to other locations or cancelled. According to flight tracking website Flightradar24, the routes of many flights were changed. The US Embassy also advised its citizens to stay away from the airport and surrounding areas.

Will America take action against Houthi rebels?

US President Donald Trump said the US could consider joining forces with Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebels. However, he clarified that a final decision in this regard has not been taken yet. The continuous attacks have also raised questions about Saudi Arabia's air security system.

Why is conflict increasing in Yemen?

The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels in Yemen has been going on for a long time. Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015. There was a significant reduction in fighting after the agreement reached in the year 2022, but tensions have increased again in recent months. Yemen's internationally recognised government launched a new military campaign against Houthi rebels this week. In response, the Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia.

Will conferences be held in Riyadh despite the attack?

Organisers of a planned energy and investment conference in Riyadh have said the event will go ahead as scheduled despite continued attacks. However, airport attacks and flight disruptions have raised concerns about passenger safety and air traffic.