Indian National Dies After Riyadh Airport Attack

UPDATE - follow-up to Indian killed in Saudi; MEA condemns Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport: One injured Indian national has died following the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Indian embassy confirmed late Sunday night.

Details of Casualties

Initial reports after Saturday's strike stated that 12 people died and 309 were hurt. The embassy said one of the 11 injured Indian nationals sadly lost his life. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed deep grief and promised all possible help to the grieving family. The dead also include four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, and one person each from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and the United States, according to the Saudi civil aviation authority.

Official Response

India strongly condemned the repeated attacks by Houthi rebels on the international airport and called for an immediate halt to the targeting of civilian areas. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that these strikes, which caused deaths, injuries, and property damage, are totally unacceptable. India also backed Saudi Arabia in protecting its sovereignty as fighting grows in West Asia, noting that nearly 20 Indians have died in this conflict since it started in February.

Context

Saudi Arabia hosts more than four million Indian citizens, forming one of the largest overseas Indian communities in the West Asia region. The recent escalation stems from a broader conflict involving Houthi rebels, Saudi forces, and international actors following the breakdown of a 2002 ceasefire.