Disturbing video shows moment Houthi terrorists bombed Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport, killing 13 people

Video Shows Explosion at Riyadh Airport During Reported Houthi Strike, Killing 13

CCTV footage released by Saudi Arabia’s Media Ministry on Monday depicts an explosion inside the terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday. Saudi authorities stated that the strike killed 13 people, including one American citizen, and injured more than 300 others. The nationalities of the deceased were reported by NBC as four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis, one Egyptian, one Jordanian, one Palestinian, one Syrian, one Sudanese, and one Indian national. The victims have not been publicly identified.

The footage shows passengers standing in lines inside the terminal when the blast occurred. Subsequent frames show smoke in the building and people moving toward exits. Additional images indicate damage to the ceiling and interior structures. Saudi officials said the airport, which had been hit four times in the preceding five days, was closed following the attack.

A separate projectile struck the same terminal on Sunday, according to Saudi authorities, killing one Pakistani national. The same authorities reported that a cruise missile aimed at the airport was intercepted and destroyed on Sunday. The airport remained closed on Monday, with the Saudi aviation authority confirming the suspension of operations. The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia advised American citizens of flight cancellations and airspace restrictions. U.S. government employees require special authorization to use the facility. Canadian authorities issued similar travel guidance regarding Riyadh airport.

The Houthi movement, which controls territory in Yemen, stated it carried out the strikes on Riyadh airport and also claimed an attack on Dammam airport. The group said further strikes would follow. In statements reported by the BBC, Houthi representatives described the actions as a response to Saudi military operations in Yemen, including a reported strike in Sanaa that they said killed one child and injured six others. The group also issued an online warning that Saudi airports are “vulnerable to attack.”

The conflict in Yemen involves Houthi forces, which receive support from Iran, against a coalition led by Saudi Arabia that has conducted operations in support of the Yemeni government since 2015. Houthi statements have focused on Saudi airstrikes and ground involvement inside Yemen. Saudi officials have stated that their operations target Houthi military capabilities.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman stated that the country’s response to the airport strikes “must be equally serious.” At least 540 flights scheduled for Riyadh on Monday were canceled, according to Flightradar24 data, with more than 300 additional cancellations listed for Tuesday. Operations continued at airports in Jeddah and Dammam, though with reported delays.

The footage and statements originate primarily from Saudi government sources. Independent verification of casualty figures and projectile types has not been provided by international observers in the initial reports. Houthi claims regarding responsibility and the stated rationale for the strikes have been issued through the group’s own channels.

Debris was visible in Terminal 3 after the Sunday incident, according to images circulated on social media and reported by Reuters. The airport closure has affected international and domestic routes, with travelers directed to alternative facilities.