DUBAI -- Saudi Arabia evacuated and closed its international airport in Riyadh after a missile attack by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants Saturday left dozens injured.
The attacks shook the kingdom, which has been struggling for weeks to fend off strikes by the militants amid a surge in cross-border tension.
The missiles landed direct hits on Terminals 3 and 4 of the King Khalid International Airport, Saudi officials said. Several of the injured remained in critical condition, and the airport suffered extensive damage, with parts of the roof falling on people inside, they said.
Ambulances and helicopters were sent to collect the wounded and take them to King Fahad hospital in Riyadh, the officials said. Doctors were called in from other hospitals to help with the surge of patients, they said.
People near the airport said they heard multiple loud bangs and saw smoke rising from the area.
Arrivals at the airport were canceled or delayed across the board Saturday afternoon, according to flight tracker Flightradar24. One passenger on a flight to Riyadh said his plane was diverted to Dammam and that he was taking a taxi back to the capital.
Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said there were several injuries in the attack and said the airport would be closed while damage was assessed.
President Trump told reporters Saturday that the U.S. could join Saudi strikes on the Houthis in light of the airport attack.
Canada, Germany and Ireland warned their citizens to avoid the airport in Riyadh. Canada said military activity there had disrupted flights. Ireland's embassy called it a serious incident.
The attack followed one Thursday that left three dead, including a pilot for flag carrier Saudia, and destroyed a passenger jet.
The long simmering conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni militant group flared into renewed war over the summer. The Houthis said this week that Saudi airspace is now part of the battlefield.
The continued missile attacks on airports in Riyadh and a number of southern Saudi cities threaten to choke off business travel and tourism just as the busy conference and travel season gets going.
A major test will come with the kingdom's flagship Future Investment Initiative summit, which is expected to draw thousands of global executives and investors to Riyadh at the end of this month. Conference officials said before the Saturday attack that safety is their top priority and that comprehensive safety measures will be in place.
Still, Saudi leaders are growing more worried that the conflict with the Iran-backed Yemeni militants will damage the economy, people familiar with the matter said. They also are concerned about tight supplies of missile interceptors needed to fend off attacks, they said.
The coming days will be crucial as business executives and travelers weigh the risks of continued strikes.
Geopolitical risk firm Dragonfly, which like The Wall Street Journal is owned by Dow Jones, said in a note to clients that the kingdom appears to be struggling to intercept the attacks, which are likely to continue.
A new State Department warning Thursday said U.S. government officials now need special authorization to use the Riyadh airport. The U.K. warned against all but essential travel to areas of Saudi Arabia including Riyadh.
Canada already had recommended airlines not enter Saudi airspace, while France issued a warning to avoid much of it. Germany has urged pilots to weigh the risks of flying, particularly south of Jeddah closer to the border with Yemen.