EU chief condemns deadliest Houthi attack on Riyadh airport as 'serious escalation'

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the deadliest Houthi attack yet on Riyadh airport represents a serious escalation.

Von der Leyen added that Houthi attacks are destabilizing vital global hubs for transport and energy.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation earlier confirmed in a follow-up statement that the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, October 10, 2026 (29 Rabi Al-Akhir 1448), resulted in the deaths of 12 people: two Saudi citizens, eight Bangladeshis, one American, and one Egyptian.