Sunday strike damages Riyadh airport terminal, adds to death toll from previous day

What Happened

A blast struck Terminal 4 of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday evening, injuring a number of travellers and staff. The incident follows an attack on Saturday that killed 12 people and wounded 309, according to Saudi civil aviation officials. The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, said they were behind the Saturday strike.

Reaction

Saudi‑led coalition forces said an unidentified munition caused a fire at Terminal 4 and that an unknown number of people were hurt. They also reported that air‑defence units intercepted a cruise missile near the airport and later destroyed a drone over the Eastern Province. The Saudi civil aviation authority noted ongoing assessment of material damage and listed one Pakistani national among those killed on Sunday, with 11 others injured.

Indian casualties

Three Indian nationals injured at the airport are in intensive care but stable; two more are in regular wards and the rest have left the hospitals. The Indian Embassy confirmed the death of Yousuf Sahab, a Hyderabad resident, and said his family members suffered injuries. Separately, a vessel named MT Petro Dolphin was hit by a drone off Oman, leaving nine Indian crew rescued and two missing. Another tanker, MT Valthera, was struck by an unknown projectile, igniting a fire, though all 11 Indian crew members on that ship are safe.

Context

These back‑to‑back attacks highlight gaps in Saudi air‑defence while the kingdom continues its campaign against Houthi forces fighting the Yemeni government in Taiz. India has condemned the maritime assaults in the Strait of Hormuz region and is monitoring the safety of its citizens abroad.