Egypt condemns strikes on Riyadh airport as fresh explosion triggers evacuation and flight grounding

Egypt has strongly condemned recent attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that targeted the facility and a Saudia Airlines aircraft, killing three Saudi citizens and injuring several civilians. The official statement coincided with reports of a fresh explosion at the hub on Saturday that forced its evacuation and grounded flights.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration denounced the strikes in the strongest terms. Egypt emphasized its total rejection of the attacks as a flagrant violation of international law, expressing full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in all measures taken to preserve its security, sovereignty, and citizen safety. Cairo warned that targeting air navigation undermines regional and international stability, while offering condolences to the Saudi government and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

The Egyptian statement came as reports emerged of a new attack on the Saudi capital’s main international hub. King Khalid International Airport was evacuated on Saturday after a loud blast was heard, according to Reuters and AFP reports.

More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing to the airport, according to an eyewitness cited by Reuters. Casualty figures from Saturday’s incident remain unconfirmed, and Saudi authorities have not publicly commented on the blast. The explosion follows claims by Yemen’s Houthi rebels days earlier regarding two successful attacks on the hub.

The airport instructed passengers to check flight statuses with their airlines prior to travelling, without providing an explanation for the directive.

Arrivals at King Khalid International Airport were cancelled or delayed across the board Saturday afternoon, according to flight tracking platform Flightradar24. One passenger reported that his flight to Riyadh was diverted to Dammam, forcing him to complete his journey to the capital by taxi.

Regional carriers suspended service to the hub due to security concerns. Kuwait Airways cancelled all flights to and from Riyadh, citing the airport’s closure over the “security situation”. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways also cancelled multiple flights between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into Monday.