12 Dead, Hundreds Wounded in Escalating Strikes on Riyadh Airport
RIYADH — At least 12 people have been killed and over 300 injured following a strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi aviation authorities confirmed on 11 October 2026. The attack is the latest and most devastating in a wave of strikes targeting the kingdom's transport hubs.
According to verified wire reports from Reuters and AFP citing witnesses and video evidence, the attack struck Terminal 3. Eyewitnesses described seeing a projectile streak across the sky before parts of the ceiling near a departure gate collapsed, sending passengers running for cover. Two medical sources confirmed to AFP that several pilgrims travelling to Mecca were among the casualties. Dozens of emergency vehicles dispatched to the facility were seen evacuating casualties, while commercial flights were temporarily suspended or rerouted to Jeddah.
Status of Filipinos and Foreign Ministry Response
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed that initial reports indicate Filipinos in Riyadh are currently safe, though authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh issued an urgent advisory instructing all members of the Filipino community in Saudi Arabia to remain vigilant, keep track of official security advisories, and avoid unnecessary travel near the capital's transport infrastructure and affected areas.
For emergency assistance or safety status reporting, the Philippine diplomatic mission has asked overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and residents to reach out through their designated hotlines and Embassy channels in Riyadh and Jeddah.
The assault comes amid a severe escalation in regional conflict following the breakdown of a 2022 ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. Houthi forces have launched a series of coordinated strikes across the country over recent days, including a prior Thursday attack on the same airport that killed three people, including a commercial pilot, and damaged a grounded aircraft.
The United States Embassy in Riyadh also issued a travel advisory warning citizens to avoid the airport and surrounding areas as international leaders monitor the situation closely.
