A deadly attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels hit an international airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday, killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 300, Saudi authorities said. The incident marks a further escalation in the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
The attack, which a senior Houthi official said was the responsibility of the militia, was described as the deadliest strike on a Gulf Arab country since the start of the war between the US, Israel and Iran in February.
The death toll was announced early Sunday by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority. It said the 12 people killed included four Saudi nationals and one American. Of the 309 injured, some are in critical condition.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed in a social media post that an American citizen had died in the attack. Earlier, Saudi authorities announced the temporary suspension of operations at Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.
Repeated Houthi attacks on the airport this week have raised concerns about the security of the Saudi capital and their impact on plans to transform Riyadh into a global travel and business hub. The strikes also risk disrupting major international events scheduled in the coming weeks.
