Three foreign nationals killed in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation reported three civilian deaths and 36 injuries after attacks on Abha and Riyadh airports on Tuesday and Wednesday.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said three foreign civilians were killed and 36 injured after attacks on Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport on Tuesday and Wednesday.
What happened
On Tuesday, an attack struck Abha International Airport in the southwestern city of Abha, killing two women – a Moroccan and an Algerian – and wounding 28 others. The following day, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit, resulting in the death of a Sudanese citizen and injuries to eight people, including five Saudi nationals. The authority said a total of 36 people were wounded across both sites.
What the reports add
New Indian Express noted that the Saudi civil aviation authority did not assign blame in its statement, while Al Jazeera reported that the authority emphasized coordination with security agencies to assess damage and ensure passenger safety. The New Indian Express also mentioned that the Saudi‑led coalition claimed to have destroyed the ballistic‑missile launch platform used in the Riyadh attack, a detail not included in the Al Jazeera piece.
What was said
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said it was working "in full integration and continuous coordination with the relevant security authorities" to assess damage and protect passengers, as reported by Al Jazeera. The New Indian Express quoted the civil aviation authority’s statement that Abha and King Khalid airports were "subjected to attacks targeting their facilities" without naming a perpetrator.
How it came about
These attacks follow a series of Houthi‑linked strikes on Saudi targets earlier in the month, including a ballistic missile intercepted near King Khalid Airport on 18 September and an explosion near the same airport on 19 September, as detailed in Felo’s earlier coverage (Houthi Missile Strike on Riyadh Intercepted). The Houthis have repeatedly claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure since mid‑September, prompting Saudi air‑raid alerts and coalition statements that the group’s claims were misleading (Saudi coalition calls Houthi claim misleading).
Key facts
- Three foreign civilians were killed: a Moroccan and an Algerian at Abha Airport, and a Sudanese at King Khalid Airport. (aljazeera.com)
- A total of 36 people were injured across both airport attacks. (newindianexpress.com)
- The attacks occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday at Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport. (aljazeera.com)
- Saudi civil aviation authority said it was coordinating with security authorities to assess damage. (aljazeera.com)
- Saudi‑led coalition said it destroyed the ballistic‑missile launch platform used in the Riyadh attack. (newindianexpress.com)
Timeline
- 2026-09-18 — Saudi‑led coalition said it destroyed a ballistic missile launch platform aimed at Riyadh airport.
- 2026-09-19 — Explosion heard near King Khalid International Airport; black smoke seen from fuel storage area.
- 2026-09-20 — Saudi forces intercepted a Houthi ballistic missile targeting Riyadh.
- 2026-10-04 — Saudi coalition spokesman called Houthi claim of Riyadh attack misleading.
- 2026-10-07 — Attacks on Abha and King Khalid airports kill three foreign nationals and injure 36.
