Missile hits Riyadh airport, kills one Indian, hurts 10

What happened in the Riyadh airport attack?

On October 10, a Houthi missile hit King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, striking the terminals used for domestic flights. Twelve people died, including citizens of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Palestine, the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Sudan. An Indian injured in the attack also died in hospital, and 309 people were hurt, 11 of them Indians.

Who are the Houthis?

The Houthis are a political and armed movement from Yemen. They seized much of northern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia then led a coalition to restore Yemen's recognized government, and the civil war has lasted over a decade. The Houthis attack Saudi territory, including airports, to pressure Riyadh.

Will this escalate to bigger war or a ceasefire?

A bigger war looks more likely. Saudi Arabia has stepped up strikes in Yemen, the US is considering joining them, Pakistan and Turkiye are sending troops, and the Houthis say "worse is yet to come" if Saudi attacks continue. Past peace talks, mediated by Oman and the UN, have not stopped this escalation.

Why did the war intensify in October 2026?

The fighting sharpened after the wider US-Israel war on Iran, which began in February, spilled into Yemen.

What does each side want?

Saudi Arabia says it wants to restore Yemen's internationally recognised government and prevent Yemen from being used as a staging ground for attacks on Saudi territory and Red Sea shipping, and says it remains committed to a political settlement. The Houthis say they are fighting to defend Yemen against Saudi "aggression and interference," with their stated goal being to topple the government Riyadh backs.

Why did Houthis attack a civilian airport?

The Houthis, a movement that has controlled much of northern Yemen since 2014, are fighting Saudi Arabia, which leads a coalition supporting Yemen's recognised government. After Saudi strikes in Yemen this year, the Houthis say they are targeting infrastructure connected to the Saudi war effort, calling Saudi airspace 'a theatre of operations'. They warn airlines and travellers to avoid it.

How safe is air travel in the region?

Air travel over Saudi Arabia is not safe right now. The Houthis said all airlines, travellers and airport workers should avoid Saudi airports and airspace, calling them "a theatre of operations", except for Mecca and Medina. Some airlines have suspended flights, and the airport has been hit repeatedly.

Does Saudi Arabia or the Houthis have the upper hand?

The evidence gives a mixed picture. Coalition forces drove the Houthis from parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast. But the Houthis still hit Riyadh's airport repeatedly, including the October 10 strike that killed 12 and hurt over 300. Neither side appears able to end it quickly.

Why is an airport a target in this war?

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, say Saudi airspace is a theatre of operations because Saudi Arabia leads a coalition bombing them. King Khalid is Riyadh's main gateway, so hitting it is both a military strike and a message to airlines and travellers. Our read: the airport is a symbol of Saudi reach, not a battlefield necessity.