Brief
Houthis kill 14 in Saudi airport attacks, U.S. official says American among dead
The attacks on King Khalid International Airport and a Dammam airport on Oct. 8‑9 prompted warnings of broader regional escalation.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Iran‑backed Houthi forces launched a series of strikes on Saudi Arabian airports on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2026, killing at least 14 people, including an American, and injuring more than 300, according to Fox News reports.
What happened
The first strike hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Oct. 8, producing smoke and flames and killing 13 people, according to U.S. officials cited by Fox News. A second attack on Oct. 9 targeted an airport in Dammam in the Eastern Province, adding one more fatality – a Pakistani resident – and injuring 11 others, the Saudi civil aviation authority said.
What the reports add
Fox News noted that the Houthis claimed responsibility for the earlier Riyadh strike and that U.S. officials blamed the group for the latest Dammam attack. The outlet also reported that the attacks heightened fears of a "cross‑domain escalation" as Washington pursues maximum‑pressure measures against Iran’s aviation sector.
What was said
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that "cross‑domain escalation by Iran and its proxies will continue to be a primary strategy" and linked the focus on aviation to recent U.S. sanctions on Iranian airlines.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, speaking on the Senate floor, confirmed that an American citizen was among those killed and called for an immediate end to the violence.
Former President Donald Trump said the United States "may" consider involvement in Saudi Arabia’s response, adding that the U.S. would "look at it" and act quickly.
How it came about
The attacks follow a pattern of Houthi strikes on Saudi airports that began earlier in October, including a missile strike on Oct. 7 that killed three foreign nationals and a series of assaults on Oct. 9‑10 that left at least 12 dead and more than 300 injured, as documented in Felo News coverage.
Saudi authorities have warned that the Houthi threat could become global, urging airlines and travelers to avoid Saudi airports while the kingdom prepares possible retaliatory measures.
Key facts
- Houthis attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Oct. 8, killing 13 people. (foxnews.com)
- A second strike on a Dammam airport on Oct. 9 killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11. (foxnews.com)
- At least 14 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the two attacks combined. (foxnews.com)
- U.S. Senator Marco Rubio confirmed an American citizen was among the dead. (foxnews.com)
- Behnam Ben Taleblu warned of "cross‑domain escalation" by Iran and its proxies. (foxnews.com)
Sources
- [1] foxnews.com — originally reported as “Houthis kill 14 at Saudi airport as expert warns of 'rapid targets' amid Middle East war”
