Riyadh Airport Hit Again, Dozens Injured; Trump Signals Possible U.S. Entry Into the War

Trump hints at US joining war in face of Houthi attacks , security concerns in Saudi capital

Special Correspondent. Dhaka, October 11, 2026.

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Several people were injured in an attack on Saturday at King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The airport was closed for security reasons after the attack, the country’s civil aviation authority said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

The attack on the airport comes as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have intensified their missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. Riyadh airport was hit twice earlier this week, killing four people. The series of attacks has also raised questions about the weakness of Saudi Arabia’s own defenses in its fight against the Houthis. Saudi Arabia’s early warning system did not issue any warnings before Saturday’s incident.

The Saudi government’s media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported.

A witness at the airport on Saturday said he saw an explosion. He then saw several injured people lying on the floor inside the airport. More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing towards the airport after the incident.

A passenger injured in the attack told Reuters he saw an object flying through the sky outside the airport, then a section of the roof collapsed near the departure gate.

US may join Saudi campaign against Houthis: Trump

US President Donald Trump has discussed whether the United States will join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthi rebels following the attack on Riyadh airport.

Asked about the matter while speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said the United States could join the Saudi campaign, but that no final decision had been made.

“We can join. We’ll consider it. We just learned about the latest attacks. So we’ll make a decision. We’ll act very quickly,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Riyadh said it was aware of the attack and strongly advised all US citizens to avoid Riyadh airport and the surrounding area.

The British and Irish embassies in Saudi Arabia also described the airport incident as a “serious incident” in a separate statement on social media. The Canadian embassy said operations at Riyadh airport were affected by ongoing military activity.

Warnings from diplomatic missions of several countries and the decision by various international airlines to cancel flights following the airport attack have further heightened concerns about the security situation in the Saudi Arabian capital.

All flights to Riyadh canceled or diverted

Riyadh airport was severely disrupted after the attack. According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, all flights to Riyadh were either diverted to other airports or cancelled. At one point, only one helicopter was seen circling the airport.

Kuwait Airways said it has canceled all flights to and from the Saudi capital due to the closure of the airport due to the security situation in Riyadh.

Earlier, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also canceled multiple flights to Riyadh from their respective major hubs. Some of these cancellations are expected to remain in effect until Monday.

Several international airlines suspended or canceled flights to Riyadh earlier this week and after the Houthi attacks on Thursday, leaving the Saudi capital’s airspace disrupted even before Saturday’s attack.

The attacks and flight cancellations come as Riyadh prepares to host a major energy and investment conference. Representatives from various countries, businessmen, investors and people involved in the energy sector are expected to attend these important international conferences.

Decision to hold conference despite security concerns

Organizers are sticking to their decision to hold the scheduled energy and investment conference despite the deadly attack at the Riyadh airport and the deteriorating security situation.

On Saturday, conference organizers said the events would go ahead as scheduled, while also trying to reassure participants about their safety.

However, due to a series of attacks on airports, flight cancellations, and warnings from foreign embassies, travel and security management for conference participants has become a critical issue. It may be difficult for foreign guests and delegates to reach Riyadh on time, especially if international air traffic is disrupted.

Houthis warn to avoid Saudi airspace

Houthi rebels have urged airlines to avoid Saudi airspace in the wake of recent attacks in Saudi Arabia, which the group declared a “military operation zone” after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched a military campaign against the Houthis earlier this month.

Saudi Arabia has a military and political role in Yemen’s long-running conflict with the Houthis. Saudi Arabia’s conflict with the Iran-backed group has complicated the regional security situation. Recent attacks on the Saudi capital and critical aviation infrastructure suggest a renewed escalation of the conflict.

Saturday’s attack, which followed two previous attacks at Riyadh airport that killed four people and injured several others, has raised questions about the security of Saudi Arabia’s vital civilian facilities. The lack of advance warning before Saturday’s incident has raised concerns about the country’s defenses and ability to detect attacks.

On the other hand, Trump’s comments about possible US participation in the Saudi campaign have made the situation even more critical. If Washington eventually joins the direct military operation, there is a risk that the conflict in Yemen will widen. However, the US has not yet announced any final decision on this matter.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the latest attack on Riyadh airport. Saudi authorities have not released detailed information on the nature of the attack, the weapons used, or whether Houthi rebels were directly involved. As a result, the specific responsibility for the attack and the full picture of the circumstances surrounding it are still unclear.