A blast struck King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital on Saturday, leaving several people wounded and triggering immediate security protocols across the terminal facilities, according to eyewitnesses and sources familiar with the incident.
​Panic unfolded inside the terminal building as the explosion shattered glass panels and caused portions of the ceiling structure to collapse near passenger waiting areas. Emergency medical teams and multiple ambulances rushed to the scene shortly after the detonation to treat the wounded and evacuate victims to nearby medical facilities.
​”I saw an explosion and then saw multiple people lying injured on the ground inside the airport,” one eyewitness present during the blast reported to Reuters.
​Flight operations at the capital’s main international gateway experienced temporary suspensions and delays while security forces established a perimeter to inspect the site and assess structural damage.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion, while regional officials and civil aviation representatives review safety protocols following the strike.
​The attack marks the third strike on the capital’s international airport this week, following earlier incidents that left four people dead, multiple wounded, and a commercial aircraft damaged.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree previously declared Saudi airspace a military operations zone, warning international airlines to avoid regional hubs following military escalations in neighboring Yemen.
​Saudi Arabia’s early warning system did not issue a prior alert before Saturday’s strike. Airport authorities have advised all traveling passengers to avoid traveling to the terminal and to check flight statuses directly with their respective airlines.
