Missile attack on Riyadh airport kills one Pakistani national, injures 11

A missile attack struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, once again on Sunday. The sudden attack shook the entire airport complex. According to available information, one Pakistani national was killed on the spot and 11 people were seriously injured.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said all the injured have been taken to various nearby hospitals for treatment. The airport's property has suffered heavy damage running into crores of rupees, and assessment of the loss is under way.

A day earlier, on Saturday, a similar attack had been reported. At least 12 people were reported to have died in that incident. All routine operations at the airport had to be halted immediately given the situation. Attacks have been taking place in the area continuously for the past few days. This has put the safety of international passengers and air traffic at risk, and there is an atmosphere of concern across the Gulf region.

A video of Saturday's incident has now surfaced. In it, some pilgrims are seen preparing to board a flight for Umrah, while some passengers are seen resting as they wait for their turn. After a huge explosion, panic broke out at the airport and people ran helter-skelter to save their lives.

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for all the attacks carried out in the past 24 hours. They have also openly threatened to keep targeting Saudi Arabia's important economic and transport hubs. This has added to the challenges before the Saudi administration.

The closure of Riyadh airport has been extended by another 24 hours because of the missile and drone attacks. The airport will remain completely shut until 2100 GMT on Monday night, it has been announced. With the airport closed for an indefinite period, thousands of passengers are facing hardship and several international flights have been diverted. The administration has appealed to passengers to travel only after contacting the airlines concerned.

After Riyadh, Dammam airport in eastern Saudi Arabia has also come under threat from the attacks. The civil aviation authority had earlier confirmed that Dammam airport was also hit by a crisis. The Saudi-led security coalition has announced that it destroyed a dangerous drone in mid-air in the eastern region. The continuing attacks have raised big questions over Saudi Arabia's air security, and there are demands for a firm stand at the international level.

In brief, one Pakistani national was killed and 11 people seriously injured in Sunday's attack, while at least 12 people were reported to have died in Saturday's attack.