King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked again on Sunday 11 October, a day after a missile strike that killed 12 people and wounded 309, according to Saudi authorities quoted by the Washington Post. The BBC called it the second strike in two days. The Saudi-led coalition said the new attack caused a fire (Mint), the Inquirer reported that a terminal was reportedly struck, and AP and Politico reported that the airport's closure was extended. Saudi Arabia vowed a major response (Washington Post). The Houthis claimed the first strike; Le Monde reported them announcing large-scale operations against airports and energy sites, and FinancialJuice, a market news feed, quoted them as saying they hit Dammam airport and Aramco facilities. Saudi civil aviation said Dammam airport was targeted on Sunday evening.
Two attacks on a capital's main airport in two days, and a claim against oil infrastructure, move the war from a regional conflict towards air travel and oil supply worldwide.
Flights routed through Saudi airports may be cancelled or diverted; check with your airline before going to the airport. Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia should follow their embassy's advice. Higher oil prices would feed into the pump prices EPRA sets, with its next review due on Wednesday 14 October.
Saudi Arabia says it will respond and treats the attacks as an assault on civilians and civil aviation.
The Houthis say they are answering Saudi-led military action in Yemen and warn airlines and travellers to avoid Saudi airports (Reuters).
Treat the Dammam and Aramco damage as a claim until Saudi authorities or Aramco confirm it. The things to watch are Monday's oil opening in Asia and whether the United States joins any Saudi strikes.
Washington Post, BBC, Mint, Inquirer, Politico, AP, Le Monde, FinancialJuice, Reuters, CBS News (10–11 Oct 2026)
Riyadh airport attacked a second time in two days as Houthis claim Dammam and Aramco sites; Saudi Arabia vows a major responseRiyadh airport attacked a second time in two days as Houthis claim Dammam and Aramco sites; Saudi Arabia vows a major response
Saturday's missile strike killed 12 and wounded 309, according to Saudi authorities. On Sunday a new attack set the airport on fire, the Houthis claimed more targets in the Eastern Province, and oil executives pulled out of an energy congress in Riyadh.
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked again on Sunday 11 October, a day after a missile strike that killed 12 people and wounded 309, Saudi authorities said, as quoted by the Washington Post. The BBC called Sunday's attack the second strike in two days. The Saudi-led coalition said the new attack caused a fire, Mint reported, the Inquirer in the Philippines reported that a terminal was reportedly struck by a projectile, and AP and Politico reported that the closure of the airport was extended. Saudi Arabia vowed a major response, according to the Washington Post.
The Houthis claimed Saturday's strike. Le Monde reported that they announced large-scale operations against airports and energy sites, and FinancialJuice, a market news feed, quoted them as saying they hit Dammam airport and Aramco facilities in the Eastern Province. Saudi civil aviation said Dammam airport was targeted on Sunday evening and that damage was being assessed; DailyDrop has seen no confirmation of damage at Aramco. CBS News reported a fresh Houthi threat to Saudi airspace, and Reuters that the group renewed its warning to airlines and travellers against using Saudi airports.
Foreign nationals were among the wounded: the Philippine government said four Filipinos were hurt, three of them in intensive care (Inquirer, GMA), and India said 11 Indians were injured (Hindustan Times, The Economic Times). Saudi Gazette reported that the health minister visited Riyadh hospitals, and the Economic Times asked why Saudi air defences struggle to stop Houthi attacks. Reuters also reported a strike on Sanaa airport in Houthi-held Yemen, according to Houthi-run television. Russia condemned the attack on the airport, according to a report carried by FinancialJuice from Interfax, and Antara reported Yemeni government troops attacking the Houthis in Marib. The shock reached markets and business. Reuters reported that Saudi stocks slid, and the Financial Times that oil executives pulled out of an energy congress in Riyadh. India said an Indian national died after the attack (Hindustan Times, The Hindu); it is not clear whether he is counted in the 12. For Kenya the effects run through flights that connect via Gulf hubs, oil prices and Kenyans who work in Saudi Arabia. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority holds its next monthly pump-price review on Wednesday 14 October, and a rise in crude would feed into it. If you are due to fly through Saudi Arabia, check with your airline before leaving for the airport.