Marco Rubio calls for immediate halt to attacks as Saudi Arabia assesses damage; airlines suspend flights and several countries issue travel advisories.
Washington, Oct 2026 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly condemned the reported attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, confirming that an American citizen was among the 12 people killed. He called for an immediate cessation of attacks, expressing Washington’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid growing regional security concerns.
In a post on X, Rubio said the United States condemned the attacks on Saudi territory, including Saturday’s strike on the airport, which reportedly left 309 people injured.
“These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now,” Rubio said, extending condolences to the victims and their families and reaffirming the US commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia.
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the 12 fatalities included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
GACA said 309 people were injured in the incident, with several reportedly in critical condition. The injured were being treated at hospitals, while authorities assessed the extent of damage to airport infrastructure and surrounding facilities.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the reported strike, expressing shock over the loss of life and injuries. He stressed that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and called for an immediate end to such incidents.
The latest attack follows reported strikes on King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport on October 6 and 7. According to GACA, those incidents killed three people and injured 36, raising further concerns about the safety of civilian aviation infrastructure in the kingdom.
The latest incident drew condemnation from Palestine, Egypt and Qatar. The three countries expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and voiced concern over civilian casualties, national sovereignty and the implications for regional stability.
Airport operations were temporarily suspended following the reported attack as authorities inspected the site, assessed the damage and carried out safety checks. Several airlines also announced cancellations or suspensions, citing security concerns and potential operational disruptions.
Akasa Air extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh until October 13. Kuwait Airways cancelled its Riyadh-bound and return flights scheduled for Saturday.
The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia advised American citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport and nearby areas. It warned that the security situation could lead to flight cancellations, airspace closures and wider travel disruptions.
British authorities similarly urged their nationals to stay away from the airport until it was deemed secure and to follow instructions issued by Saudi authorities.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Germany and Spain also issued travel advisories urging their citizens to avoid the affected airport or exercise caution.
The reported attack has heightened concerns over the security of major aviation hubs in the region, with governments and airlines monitoring developments and prioritising passenger safety. The circumstances surrounding the incident and the extent of the damage remain subject to official assessment.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
