[Anchor]

Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh has suffered another major attack on its international airport by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, resulting in massive casualties. At least 12 people were killed and 300 others injured. With American citizens among the dead, President Trump has hinted at the possibility of military intervention.

Reporting from Kim Minpyo.

[Reporter]

The terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, was engulfed in dust, with ceiling materials scattered across the floor.

Smoke rises above the building.

Saudi aviation authorities stated that a missile attack by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels killed at least 12 people and injured 309 others.

Among the dead, four were Saudi nationals, making up the largest share, and one was an American citizen.

This marks the heaviest casualties from an attack on an Arab nation in the Gulf region since the outbreak of the war involving Iran.

With airport operations suspended, flights to and from Riyadh have been canceled in succession.

The Houthi bombing of King Khalid Airport is the fourth within a week, following a ballistic missile attack two days ago that damaged a Saudi commercial aircraft and killed three people, including the captain.

As the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched an operation on October 4 local time to recapture key strongholds around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, an oil transport route, the Houthis have concentrated their strikes on the Saudi mainland, including airports and oil refineries.

This is a retaliatory attack against Saudi Arabia deploying fighter jets to provide aerial support for the Yemeni ground operations.

As Saudi air defense systems have been repeatedly breached and American casualties occurred, the United States, which had previously provided only indirect support such as intelligence on airstrikes, has hinted at the possibility of military intervention.

[Donald Trump / U.S. President : (Have you decided whether to join Saudi Arabia's retaliatory airstrikes?) We could. We will be looking at it. (When will you make a decision?) I just heard about this attack. We will make a decision soon. We move very quickly.]

The Houthis issued an additional threat that other airports across Saudi Arabia, excluding the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medina, could also become targets, while the Saudi-led coalition has declared strong retaliation against the Houthis.

(Video Editing: Cho Mu-hwan)