At least 12 people have been killed and 300 others wounded after Yemen’s Houthis launched a third attack this week on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, drawing widespread global condemnation.
The assault marks the deadliest strike inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in more than a decade, reports Al Jazeera.
According to the Saudi civil aviation authority, the casualties from Saturday’s lethal strike included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one individual each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt.
The assault occurred as the war in Yemen intensifies, with the Iran-backed Houthis fighting forces aligned with the country’s internationally recognised government whilst Saudi Arabia conducts an air campaign supporting the Yemeni government’s ground operations.
United States
US President Donald Trump described the attack as “terrible” and stated he “will be speaking” with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, soon.
Trump noted that Washington is evaluating whether the US should join the war against the Houthis, adding that “We may. We’re gonna look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We’ll move very quickly.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that an American citizen was killed in the strike and called for an end to “these reprehensible attacks”.
Writing on X, Rubio stated that Washington stands with Saudi Arabia and extends condolences to the victims and their families.
United Nations
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on X that he was “deeply shocked” and strongly condemned “Saturday’s lethal attack by the Houthis on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.”
Guterres stressed that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure violate international law and “must cease immediately”.
Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, warned that the deadly strikes represent “a grave escalation” that poses a serious threat to regional security, perpetuates cycles of violence, and further complicates peace efforts for Yemen.
Egypt
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its “strong condemnation” of the Houthi attacks. The ministry denounced the Houthis’ “flagrant violation” of international law and their “disregard” for the safety of citizens.
Qatar
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Houthi attacks, describing them as a “serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to the security of the region, the safety of civilians, civil facilities and air navigation”.
Expressing full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, the ministry affirmed that Doha supports “all legitimate measures” taken by the Kingdom to preserve its sovereignty, security, and the safety of its territories.
Pakistan
Pakistan strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous act of terrorism” and a “grave threat to regional peace and security”.
The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Islamabad, which has recently activated a mutual defence pact with Riyadh over the attacks, “stands in unwavering solidarity” with Saudi Arabia.
Jordan
Jordan’s King Abdullah offered condolences to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the attacks, expressing his kingdom’s full solidarity with Riyadh.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the “brutal aggression” by the Houthis, describing it as a “dangerous escalation” and a “blatant breach of international law.”
Oman The Sultanate of Oman denounced the attack and emphasised the “necessity of prioritising the voice of wisdom and self-restraint and avoiding actions that would expand the scope of escalation, in order to preserve the security and stability of the region”.
Palestine
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared “its full solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. The ministry affirmed its support for “all measures taken by the Kingdom to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents”.
Japan
Japan’s embassy in Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the repeated attacks by the Houthis.
The embassy stated that assaults on civilians “cannot be tolerated” under any circumstances.
Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly the strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as “abhorrent”.
Writing on X, he stated that “there can be no justification for attacks on civilian infrastructure” and affirmed that Canada “condemns these reckless acts of violence in the strongest possible terms”.
