Saudi Arabia says three foreign nationals killed in attacks on airports
Saudi Arabia reports three foreign nationals killed in airport attacks, with Houthi group claiming responsibility.
Key points
- Three people were killed in attacks on Saudi airports on 6 and 7 October 2026.
- The attacks targeted Abha and Riyadh airports, with two women and a Sudanese man among the dead.
- Houthi forces claimed responsibility, saying they used missiles and drones in the attacks.
Saudi Arabia says three foreign nationals were killed in attacks on two airports.
Attacks on Saudi airports
On 6 and 7 October 2026, two airports in Saudi Arabia were targeted in separate attacks. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported that Abha International Airport was attacked on one day, and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on another.
The attack at Abha International Airport killed two foreign nationals — a Moroccan and an Algerian woman — and injured 28 others. The attack at King Khalid International Airport killed a Sudanese citizen and injured eight people, including five Saudi citizens.
GACA said it is working with security authorities to assess damage and ensure safety for passengers and workers.
Houthi claims
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the Houthis launched attacks on both Saudi airports using ballistic missiles and drones. He also said the group attacked Aden’s International Airport in Yemen on the same day.
Major-General Turki al-Maliki, representing the Saudi-led coalition, confirmed that military units intercepted a ballistic missile northeast of Riyadh and dismantled an attack platform in Sanaa, Yemen, which had been used to target Saudi urban areas.
Background of previous attacks
Saudi Arabia has seen previous attacks on its airports. In recent weeks, new cage-like fences have been erected around fuel tanks and equipment of the state-run Aramco oil company near Riyadh.
The attacks mark an escalation in the conflict between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.
Questions and answers
- Two women, a Moroccan and an Algerian, were killed at Abha. A Sudanese man was killed at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh.
- Who was killed in the attacks?
- The attacks occurred on 6 and 7 October 2026.
- When did the attacks happen?
- The Houthi military group claimed responsibility for the attacks on both Saudi airports.
- Who claimed responsibility for the attacks?
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