Tension spikes in West Asia as Saudi coalition threatens retaliation after deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh airport

A deadly strike on a major civilian airport has led to a major escalation of tensions in West Asia, prompting Saudi Arabia’s coalition forces to threaten retaliation.

Following the airport hit, India called for an immediate halt to attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on October 11 that it would "respond firmly" to the Houthi attack a day earlier on the passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The strike killed 12 people and left 309 injured, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.


Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Malki said the attack amounted to a war crime under international humanitarian law and customary international rules. In a statement posted on his official X account, he condemned the incident as a grave violation of humanitarian principles and moral values.

Al-Malki said the coalition’s Joint Forces Command would take a firm response to what he termed a terrorist attack, while adhering to international humanitarian law.

Also read | Houthis' attack on Saudi's Riyadh airport kills 12, injures over 300 as conflict escalates

The Saudi aviation authority reported that the casualties from Saturday afternoon’s attack included four Saudi nationals and eight foreign residents. The foreign nationals comprised two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

Those injured were being treated at multiple hospitals, with some reported to be in serious condition, the authority said.

Airport operations had been temporarily suspended following the incident as officials assessed the damage and carried out safety inspections. The attack came amid continuing exchanges of strikes between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group targeting major airports.

The Houthis, a day after the attack, issues a fresh warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, Reuters reported. The rebel group said that their warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom "bore responsibility for failed interceptions".

India condemns attack

India also denounced the strike, expressing support for Saudi Arabia as it sought to defend its sovereignty. New Delhi said repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure could not be accepted and called for hostilities to stop immediately.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in recent days, including the October 10 incident, saying they had caused fatalities, injuries and property damage.

The ministry extended condolences to the families of those killed and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

India also stressed that civilian lives and infrastructure must not be subjected to repeated attacks, urging an immediate end to such hostilities.