King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh temporarily suspended operations on Saturday (October 10) following an attack that killed at least 12 people and injured 309 others, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).

The suspension was announced as authorities assessed damage to airport infrastructure and verified the safety of the facility.

GACA said the measure was being coordinated with relevant authorities, with further updates expected as assessments continued.

The authority confirmed that the fatalities included four Saudi citizens and eight foreign nationals from Bangladesh, the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

Several injured people were reported to be in critical condition and were receiving treatment at hospitals across the Kingdom.

The disruption has affected air travel to and from the Saudi capital.

Flight-tracking website FlightAware reported that at least 291 flights at Riyadh airport had been cancelled over the preceding 24 hours.

Several international airlines had also suspended services to Riyadh and other Saudi airports for varying periods.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised citizens whose journeys had been disrupted by cancelled, suspended or delayed flights to contact Saudi embassies and consulates for assistance.

The incident comes amid a series of attacks attributed to Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen targeting Saudi territory and aviation infrastructure.

Authorities also reported separate aerial incidents in the Eastern Province and Al-Kharj, including the interception of a drone and a ballistic missile.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, citing the reported reach of Houthi attacks and increased threats to aviation infrastructure.

The attacks have prompted international condemnation and renewed calls to protect civilian facilities and air travel.