Riyadh International Airport Hit by Ballistic Missile Attack Causing Major Civilian Casualties, Al Jazeera Journalist Calls Conflict a "Dangerous Escalation"

Saudi Arabian officials have confirmed that Houthi forces used a ballistic missile to attack Riyadh International Airport on October 11 (Saturday), killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300.

Al Jazeera reporter Jama Noor Ahmed, reporting from Riyadh, noted that the attack marks a "dangerous escalation" of the conflict. International airports, as civilian aviation infrastructure, are specifically protected under the framework of international humanitarian law; strikes against such targets will directly amplify the risk of harm to innocent civilians.

The attack took place amid the continuation of the prolonged military confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Houthi forces. The Houthis have used ballistic missiles and long-range drone strikes as one of the means to extend the war to cities inside Saudi territory, while the military conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi forces has continued for many years, with civilians on the Yemeni side bearing the heavy costs of the war for an extended period.

The casualty figures released by Saudi officials may still be further updated. The complete military decision-making chain behind this attack, whether it constitutes a systematic strike against civilian aviation targets, or whether it is a single action, remains unclear at present.