News Middle East Saudi Arabia Attacks
Attack hits Riyadh airport
The New Arab, Al Jazeera and The Independent reported an attack on Riyadh airport in reports first published on 28 October 2026.
Casualty figures had not been confirmed by two independent sources at the time of publication.
The Express Tribune, The Independent and The Times of Israel attribute it to Ansar Allah (Houthis). Terrorism Portal has not independently established responsibility.
The sources consulted present it as an attack by Ansar Allah (Houthis) without calling it terrorism; Terrorism Portal does not classify it as such on the basis of these reports.
Ansar Allah (Houthis) is on the UN Security Council sanctions list for Yemen.
Confirmed facts
- Location
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Middle East) Corroborated
- Event date
- 28 October 2026 Date of first reports
- Type of event
- Attack on an airport Corroborated
- Deaths
- No figure confirmed by two independent sources Not established
- Injured
- No figure confirmed by two independent sources Not established
- Responsibility
- Attributed to Ansar Allah (Houthis) by The Express Tribune, The Independent and The Times of Israel Attributed
- Classification
- Not described as terrorism by the sources consulted As reported
- Independent sources
- 5
Context
Absolute monarchy and the largest economy in the Gulf, custodian of Islam's two holiest mosques. Has led a military coalition in Yemen since 2015 and has been the target of Houthi missile and drone attacks. Historically a target of al-Qaeda and Islamic State attacks.
Terrorism Portal's dossier “Yemen: Conflict, Terrorism and Regional Power Projection” provides background on this subject.
How this report was verified
How this report was produced: Terrorism Portal's monitoring system identified the event in 5 independent sources, retrieved the original article of at least one of them and checked that they agree on place, date and type of event. Details reported by a single source are not included as facts.
Sources consulted
- Houthis claim attacks on defence ministry building in Riyadh, Abha international airport
- Houthi forces claim six attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities
- Blasts heard in Riyadh after Houthis say Saudi strike kills 12
- Houthis target Saudi Arabia's Dammam airport as wave of airport attacks continues
- US orders Saudi Arabia evacuations amid Houthi attacks and Red Sea fears
- Saudis intercept Houthi missiles, blasts heard in Riyadh; 12 reported killed in Yemen
- US tells all non-emergency staff to leave Saudi Arabia as Houthis step up attacks
Original headlines are shown as each source published them, in their own language.
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