Arab and international countries and organizations have condemned attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi airports, the latest of which targeted King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh on Saturday, killing 12 people and injuring 309 others.
The condemnations came amid calls to halt attacks on civilians and civil aviation facilities, as well as warnings about the repercussions of the escalation on regional security and stability.
Jordan, among the first countries to condemn the attacks, reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its security and sovereignty. The United Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council, United States, Pakistan and Yemen also condemned the attacks and called for an immediate halt to them.
In details of the latest attack, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced late Saturday that 12 people were killed and 309 others injured when King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was attacked Saturday afternoon.
The authority said those killed included four Saudis, two Bangladeshi nationals, and one national each from Jordan, the United States, Egypt, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
It added that the injured are receiving medical care at several hospitals, including some in critical condition, while the relevant authorities continue to assess the material damage caused by the attack.
Saudi authorities had announced the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport following the attack, which resulted in deaths and injuries.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the attack came amid continued attacks targeting civil aviation facilities in the Kingdom.
In a military response, the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen vowed to respond firmly to the attack on King Khalid International Airport.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki said the attack on the airport constituted a terrorist act, stressing that the Joint Forces Command would respond firmly in accordance with international humanitarian law and customary international law.
The latest attack followed a series of attacks targeting civil aviation facilities in Saudi Arabia over the past week.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation had announced that three people were killed in two attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport on Thursday, following the deaths of three others in attacks on King Khalid and Abha airports on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The repeated attacks have prompted international warnings about the dangers of continued targeting of civilian airports and their impact on passenger safety and air transportation, amid growing calls to halt the attacks and respect international humanitarian law.
The developments come amid escalating security and military tensions involving the Houthis in Yemen, along with concerns that the escalation could widen and affect regional security and peace efforts in Yemen.
King Abdullah Reaffirms Jordan’s Full Solidarity with Saudi Arabia
King Abdullah II condemned the attacks targeting Abha and King Khalid international airports, reaffirming Jordan’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for the measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its security and sovereignty.
The King sent a cable of condolences to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, expressing, on behalf of himself, the Jordanian people and government, sincere condolences over the victims of the attacks.
He prayed that God grant the victims mercy and give King Salman and the Saudi people patience and strength. King Abdullah also sent a similar cable to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced early Sunday that a Jordanian citizen was killed and four others injured in the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport on Saturday.
Ministry spokesman Ambassador Fouad Al-Majali said the ministry, through its Operations Directorate and the Jordanian Embassy in Riyadh, is following up on the condition of the injured in coordination with Saudi authorities to provide the necessary medical care and assistance, while also arranging for the transfer of the deceased Jordanian’s body to Jordan.
Al-Majali said the Jordanian ambassador in Riyadh visited the injured to check on their health, noting that two citizens had been discharged from the hospital while two Jordanian women remain under treatment.
He reiterated Jordan’s condemnation of Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, its civilians, and civilian and economic facilities, reaffirming Jordan’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for all measures it takes to protect its security, stability, resources, and the safety of its citizens and residents.
He also praised the cooperation and efforts of the Saudi authorities in providing medical care to the injured Jordanians, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and wished the two injured women a speedy recovery.
GCC Calls for Firm International Action
Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemned the attacks carried out by Ansar Allah (the Houthis) against King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, stressing that repeated attacks on the airport constitute a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.
Albudaiwi said the “treacherous” Houthi attacks reflect a “criminal approach,” stressing that turning civilian airports into targets represents a highly dangerous escalation that threatens the safety of civil aviation.
He called for firm international action to deter such practices and halt attacks on civilian facilities, reaffirming that GCC member states stand united with Saudi Arabia.
UN Condemns Attacks and Calls for Their Halt
At the international level, UN Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport, which caused casualties, stressing that attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia violate international law and must stop immediately.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg also condemned the continued attacks by Ansar Allah (the Houthis) against civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, warning that they represent a dangerous escalation and a serious threat to regional security.
Grundberg said the attacks further complicate peace efforts in Yemen, again calling on the Houthis to halt them and respect international humanitarian law, including the prohibition on targeting civilians and civilian objects.
Washington Condemns Attack as Trump Considers Strikes
In the United States, President Donald Trump described the attacks on Saudi Arabia as “horrible” and unacceptable, saying the Saudis are capable of defending their country.
Trump said Washington is in contact with the Houthis and that what they had done was “very bad.” He added that he had not yet spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman but intended to contact him.
Trump also said Saturday that he was considering the possibility of direct US military involvement in strikes against the Houthis after being briefed on the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport, adding that any action would be swift.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned the attack on King Khalid International Airport, which killed several civilians, including an American citizen.
Rubio said the attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians, called for an immediate halt to them and reaffirmed US support for Saudi Arabia and its people.
He expressed Washington’s condolences to the families of the victims and reiterated the US condemnation of Houthi attacks against the Kingdom.
Following the attack, the US Embassy in Riyadh advised American citizens to avoid King Khalid International Airport and the surrounding areas.
The embassy also required US government employees working in Saudi Arabia to obtain special authorization to use King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as the airports in Jeddah and Dammam.
Pakistan Reaffirms Solidarity with Saudi Arabia
In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, stressing that targeting civilians poses a threat to peace and must stop immediately.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty under the Mecca Agreement for mutual defense, stressing that Pakistan stands with Saudi Arabia in confronting attacks targeting its security and the safety of civilians.
Yemen Condemns Attack and Vows to Continue “Dawn of Yemen” Operation
In Yemen, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi condemned the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport, saying it reflects the nature of the militia’s conduct and its disregard for civilian lives and the interests of the Yemeni people.
Al-Alimi expressed Yemen’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its leadership, government and people, and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
He stressed that the security of Saudi Arabia and Yemen and the interests of their peoples are interconnected, and that any attack against the Kingdom constitutes an attack on Yemen’s security, interests and the future of its generations.
Al-Alimi renewed his country’s determination to continue the “Dawn of Yemen” operation, with the aim of ending the Houthi threat and restoring state institutions, regardless of the sacrifices required.
