Check the Houthi Attacks on Saudi Airports and What They Could Affect

In what order did the clashes unfold?

This timeline gathers the Hankook Ilbo and MBC reports by date. The two outlets give slightly different starting points: MBC said the Houthis have been concentrating attacks on airports and refineries since the 5th, while Hankook Ilbo began with the attacks on airports on the 7th and 8th. Everything below is as of 2026-10-13.

MBC reported that this was the third attack on King Khalid airport in this week alone.

How bad was the damage on the 10th?

According to Hankook Ilbo, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said at least 12 people died and 309 were injured. The dead included 4 Saudis, 2 Bangladeshis, and 1 each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt. MBC reported that 8 of the dead were foreigners, including an American, and described it as the heaviest loss of life from a military strike in a Gulf country since the Iran war began in February.

The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed 136 Houthi military targets, but MBC pointed out that the capital's air defenses were breached again.

What did the Houthis and Saudi Arabia each say?

The two sides' claims differ. According to Hankook Ilbo, Houthi senior official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti acknowledged the attacks to The New York Times and claimed they were a response to Saudi attacks on civilian facilities. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, condemned the attack on X as a clear war crime and promised a firm response.

There are also casualties on the Yemeni side. The Houthi health ministry said 91 people were killed in Saudi-led airstrikes, which Hankook Ilbo reported as being since the 3rd of last month. Yemeni government forces claimed that 1,900 attacks over 24 hours had neutralized more than 1,150 people. These figures are each side's own announcements, so they have not been independently confirmed.

What is the US position, and why is it torn?

According to Hankook Ilbo, President Trump said on the 10th that he would consider joining the attack on Saudi Arabia's behalf and that he planned to speak with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. MBC reported that Trump said he would hold off on further attacks on Iran before the midterm elections but left open the possibility of military involvement against the Houthis.

MBC called this a dilemma. With the Iran war dragging on and oil prices high, the burden ahead of the election is heavy. The interpretation is that striking the Houthis could widen the front, while leaving them alone would threaten key ally Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea oil shipping route. US Central Command said on the 10th that it attacked and stopped a merchant ship in the Gulf of Oman that appeared to be trying to break the naval blockade of Iran.

What effects are there on the international community and energy events?

According to Hankook Ilbo, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg called the incident a serious deterioration. The United States, Canada, Japan, Oman, and others also condemned the attacks. Events such as the International Energy Forum (IEF) ministerial meeting are going ahead as planned, but attendance is being affected, for example with Italy's energy minister set to speak by video. The Future Investment Initiative (FII) is reportedly also scheduled for later this month.

What news should you check next?

The reports point to three variables: what comes out of the call between President Trump and Crown Prince bin Salman, what form the response promised by the Saudi-led coalition takes, and how the US decides whether to intervene. Casualty counts can change depending on the agency and outlet, so check announcements from Saudi civil aviation authorities and the United Nations as well. This article is based on reports checked on 2026-10-13.