Attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded over 300 more, Saudi authorities say

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1. 2h ago

   Riyadh Airport Attack Kills 12 and Injures Over 300

   An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed 12 people and wounded more than 300 others, according to Saudi authorities. The Saturday assault struck a passenger terminal, leaving multiple injured victims in critical condition. The dead include four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese. Yemen-backed Houthi rebels launched the strike as part of an extraordinary series of assaults in a new front in the regional conflict. Saudi Arabia is now probing why its defense systems failed to stop the incoming missiles and drones.

   Why it matters

   The strike marks a major escalation in the Middle East following a military offensive launched by a Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. The persistent bombardment of the Saudi capital's main international airport threatens to increase pressure on international allies, including the United States, to provide military backing to the kingdom. Riyadh officials are actively investigating the security gaps that allowed the projectiles to bypass defensive shields.

   What is confirmed

   • A missile strike on the passenger terminal at Riyadh's airport killed 12 people and wounded over 300 more on Saturday.
   • The victims killed on Saturday included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a U.S. citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian, and a Sudanese.
   • Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched multiple strikes on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport over the weekend.
   • Saudi Arabia launched an investigation into how its air defense systems failed to intercept the missiles and drones fired by Houthi rebels.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The attack is expected to increase Saudi pressure on allies including the United States to provide military support for the kingdom.

   What to watch next

   • Results of the Saudi investigation into air defense system failures
   • Potential military or diplomatic responses from the Saudi-led coalition and its U.S. allies
   • Further Houthi statements or additional missile launches targeting the Saudi capital
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. Fox News — Trump says he stopped Iran from obtaining nuclear weapon and 'blowing up' Middle East
   2. WSJ — Iran-Backed Houthis Hit Saudi Capital’s Airport in Damaging New Attack
   3. www.cnbc.com — The airport in the Saudi capital has been attacked again ...
   4. AP News — Missile strikes passenger terminal at Riyadh airport and many are wounded, official says
   5. The New York Times — Riyadh Airport Attacked Again, Diplomats Say, After Week of Houthi Strikes
   6. Al Jazeera — World condemns deadly Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport
   7. www.wlrn.org — Attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded over 300 more, Saudi authorities say | WLRN
   8. www.nbcnews.com — Riyadh airport attack kills 12 and injures over 300, Saudi officials say
   9. www.nbcnews.com — Deadly Saudi airport strikes mark major Mideast escalation
   10. www.ksat.com — Saudis probe how defense systems failed to stop deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh airport
   11. www.houstonpublicmedia.org — Attack on Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded over 300 more, Saudi authorities say | NPR & Housto....
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