In brief
CCTV footage shows passengers and staff at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh taking cover as a missile strikes the terminal on Saturday. The attack, part of a series of strikes earlier in the week, has killed 14 people and injured more than 300. The Houthis in Yemen claim responsibility, warning airlines and passengers against using Saudi airspace. Military officials have identified the attack as a mix of ballistic and cruise missiles, alongside drones, targeting key airport infrastructure.
CCTV footage from inside King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital has captured the frantic scramble of passengers, staff and security guards as a missile latches onto the terminal and explodes. The blast was heard over the loud‑speaker system, and people immediately rushed for cover or retreated to emergency shelters.
The strike has killed 14 people and injured more than 300, according to the Saudi Ministry of Interior. The terminal in the north of the airport sustained the hardest hit, with shattered windows and ruptured air‑conditioning units.
The Houthis, the Yemen‑based militia, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement they warned airlines and passengers against using Saudi airspace and criticised the government’s failure to secure its airports.
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a Houthi spokesperson, confirmed that the strike was a combination of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones, and said they would continue “escalating operations deep inside Saudi Arabia.” The group added that all Saudi airports were potential targets, with only those in Mecca and Medina exempted from the threat.
This incident follows a series of other attacks earlier in the week, including strikes on oil facilities and the eastern Dammam airport. Saudi authorities have increased air‑security patrols and are coordinating with international aviation bodies to ensure safe operations.
Witnesses in the footage reported the eerie silence that followed the impact, broken only by the distant roar of emergency sirens. A stylised graphic across the screen displayed “Stay safe – please follow emergency procedures” as evacuations commenced.