US President Donald Trump on Monday, 12 October 2026, renewed his condemnation of the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, saying he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid escalating attacks on civil aviation facilities in the kingdom.
Trump speaks of call with Crown Prince
Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One: “I spoke with the Saudi Crown Prince, and the Houthis are behaving very badly,” in the latest US response to attacks on the Saudi capital’s airport in recent days. Trump had previously described what happened in Saudi Arabia as “unacceptable” after the deadliest attack on the airport and said he intended to speak with the Saudi Crown Prince.
He also said his administration was considering its options over the possibility of providing direct support to Riyadh in confronting the Houthis, without announcing a final decision on US forces taking part in strikes against the group inside Yemen. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said Saturday’s 10 October attack on King Khalid International Airport had initially killed 12 people and injured 309 others, some critically.
Airport attack death toll rises
The Indian embassy later said an Indian national had died from his injuries, raising the reported death toll to at least 13. The victims included Saudi nationals, residents and travellers of several nationalities, including a US citizen, while the Saudi-led coalition held the Houthis responsible for the attack.
The group did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday’s strike, but claimed other attacks targeting the airport during the same week and threatened to continue operations against Saudi airports. The suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport was extended on Monday, with the Saudi civil aviation authority saying the decision was intended to complete the necessary procedures to verify the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities.
The suspension led to flights being cancelled and diverted, while airlines asked passengers to check their flight schedules before travelling to the airport. Trump’s position came after US and international condemnations of the attacks on civilian facilities.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had condemned the attack, confirming the death of a US citizen and calling for an end to the attacks, while expressing Washington’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and offering condolences to the victims and their families.
The US president’s remarks came as tensions continued between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis following a series of attacks targeting airports inside the kingdom since 6 October, including King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and Abha Airport in the south of the country. The coalition said it had intercepted missiles and drones and also said it had destroyed a launch platform used in one of the attacks on Riyadh.
