A missile attack on Saudi Arabia's main Riyadh airport killed 12 people and wounded hundreds, shutting the hub and pushing Middle East instability into the heart of the Gulf economy.

• Houthi missiles hit two terminals at King Khaled International Airport, killing 12 and injuring more than 300, including people in critical condition.
• The dead include citizens of Saudi Arabia, the US, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan.
• The airport is closed and the US embassy told Americans to stay away from the area.
• The attack fits a pattern of hitting economic chokepoints rather than armies — when one side cannot win militarily, it goes after trade and travel, and the damage spreads worldwide.
• At home, the US is dealing with its own crises: Hurricane Asaias left four dead and hundreds of thousands without power, while mass shootings in Pennsylvania killed nine.

Outlook: Expect pressure on Washington to step up military support for the Saudis, and more argument over whether that money should be spent at home instead.