12 Killed in Houthi Attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Most Dangerous Countries
Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian airports, including a deadly strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport that killed 12 and wounded 309, have prompted Saudi vows of a firm response as regional conflicts escalate across Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in some of the most dangerous countries.
Deadly Houthi Strike on Riyadh Airport
The October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport killed four Saudi citizens and eight foreign nationals from Bangladesh, Palestine, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Sudan. [1] It caused 291 flight cancellations in 24 hours and suspension of operations. [1] Saudi Arabia described the Houthi strike as a terrorist act and war crime, promising a response in line with international humanitarian law while already conducting airstrikes against the group since 2015. [1] The Saudi aviation authority stated that the attack left many others injured, including individuals in critical condition. [1] Authorities suspended operations at the airport while damage was assessed. [1]
Prior Houthi Attacks on Saudi Aviation
The attack followed several days of Houthi strikes on Saudi aviation infrastructure. [1] On October 6, two women, one Moroccan and one Algerian, were killed in an attack on Abha International Airport. [1] A Sudanese man was killed in an attack on Riyadh’s airport the following day. [1] On October 8, there were other attacks on Riyadh airport that killed three people, including Saudi pilot Capt. Hamoud Ali AlKalthami, whose aircraft was struck while on the ground. [1] The Houthis have also targeted other Saudi cities and infrastructure, including Khamis Mushayt, Jazan, and Najran. [1] A projectile fell near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on Saturday. [1] Saudi forces reported intercepting a drone targeting the eastern region and a ballistic missile over Al-Kharj. [1]
Saudi Response and Coalition Position
“The attack on King Khalid International Airport is a terrorist act and will be met with a firm response,” Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, said in a statement. [1] Al-Maliki described the attack as a “full-fledged war crime” and said the coalition would respond in accordance with international humanitarian law. [1] “The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will respond to this terrorist attack firmly and in accordance with international humanitarian law and its customary rules,” he said. [1] Riyadh has already been fighting the Houthis since 2015. [1] The US has condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia. [1] US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, noting that an American citizen was among those killed. [1] “These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now,” Rubio wrote. [1] Pakistan and Turkey are also backing Riyadh. [1]
Escalation in Yemen and Maritime Threats
The latest escalation by the Houthis has focused partly on Yemen’s western coast and the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. [1] Last week, the Yemeni government forces launched a counter-offensive to try to push the Houthis back on some fronts. [1] The Southern Giants forces said on October 10 that they had destroyed five Houthi armored vehicles during an attempted advance toward Dhubab Airport, west of Taiz. [1] Military sources said the Houthis were mobilizing fighters in the Al-Shamaitain district, south of Taiz, and may be preparing to attack Al-Mudharabah Al-Ulya. [1] In a separate incident over the weekend, the United Arab Emirates National Guard announced on October 10 that its Coast Guard had rescued 22 crew members from an oil tanker that caught fire in the Arabian Gulf. [1] The announcement followed an incident involving the Panama-flagged tanker Gem No. 2, which was struck by an unidentified projectile off the UAE coast on October 9, sparking a fire. [1] The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said the vessel was hit approximately 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazirah Al Hamra. [1]
Pakistan-Taliban Border Clashes
Clashes erupted between Taliban forces and Pakistani troops along the Durand Line in Paktia province, with Pakistan accused of firing ballistic missiles and drones. [2] The 203 Mansouri Corps said armed clashes had broken out between its forces and Pakistani troops near the Durand Line in Dand Patan district of southeastern Paktia province. [2] The Taliban military corps said the fighting began after Pakistani forces opened fire, prompting Taliban fighters to return fire. [2] It claimed that the Pakistani side used 14 ballistic missiles and several drones during the confrontation. [2] Local sources stated that the clashes also occurred in Aryob Zazi district of Paktia. [2] On October 1, Pakistani strikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces killed at least 10 civilians and injured nine others, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. [2]
Ethiopia-Eritrea Tensions in Tigray
Ethiopia informed the UN it is acting in self-defense against Eritrean troops accused of crossing the border, occupying northern areas, and supporting insurgents in Tigray. [3] Ethiopia told the UN Security Council it is taking measures in self-defense against Eritrea, accusing its neighbor of sending troops across the border and occupying parts of northern Ethiopia. [3] In a letter dated Friday, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos invoked Ethiopia’s right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. [3] The letter accused Eritrea of deploying infantry and mechanized units in recent weeks and supporting, financing, arming and directing insurgent groups. [3] Eritrea rejected Ethiopia’s justification of self-defense and accused it of seeking to forcibly acquire sovereign access to the Red Sea. [3] Eritrea announced last week it was severing diplomatic ties after Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara. [3] Government and allied forces took Idaga Hamus early Friday and Abiy-Adi, in the Tembien area, on Thursday afternoon. [3] Residents of Tigray's second-largest city described hunger, closed banks and a lack of medical care. [3]
What to watch next: Renewed fighting threatens shipping routes at a time when the wider region is already experiencing increased maritime insecurity, with the Yemen conflict increasingly intertwined with the broader regional confrontation stretching from Bab el-Mandeb to the Strait of Hormuz.
