Global Leaders Condemn Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport That Killed 12
Riyadh – Saudi Arabia has accused Yemen’s Houthi movement of carrying out a third attack on the Riyadh International Airport this week, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 individuals and injuring 300 others. The victims included four Saudis, two citizens from Bangladesh, and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt, according to the Saudi civil aviation authority. This incident marks the deadliest attack in the kingdom in more than a decade, occurring as regional tensions escalate amid ongoing conflict in Yemen.
United States President Donald Trump described the assault as terrible and stated he would soon speak with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the situation. He indicated that Washington is currently evaluating whether to join Saudi Arabia in military operations against the Houthis. Trump emphasized that a decision would be made quickly after reviewing the details of the recent attack. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that an American citizen was among those killed and called for an end to what he termed reprehensible attacks. Rubio expressed full solidarity with the Kingdom and extended condolences to the victims’ families on social media platform X.
Hans Grundberg, the UN special envoy for Yemen, characterized the strikes on civilian airports as a grave escalation that poses a serious threat to regional security. He warned that such actions perpetuate cycles of violence and complicate peace efforts for Yemen. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation, denouncing the attacks as a flagrant violation of international law and a disregard for citizen safety. Qatar’s foreign ministry similarly condemned the acts as a serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security and air navigation, expressing support for all legitimate measures taken by Riyadh to preserve its territory.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled the incident a heinous act of terrorism and a grave threat to regional peace. Islamabad noted that it stands in unwavering solidarity with Saudi Arabia, referencing a recently activated mutual defense pact between the two nations. Jordan’s King Abdullah offered condolences to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while the Jordanian foreign ministry condemned the brutal aggression as a dangerous escalation and blatant breach of international law. Oman denounced the attack, emphasizing the necessity of prioritizing wisdom and self-restraint to avoid expanding the scope of escalation.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, supporting all measures taken to safeguard its security and sovereignty. Japan’s embassy in Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the repeated attacks, stating that assaults on civilians cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. The Houthi group, which battles forces aligned with the internationally recognized government for control of Yemen, has been targeted by a Saudi-led air campaign supporting the ground war against the Iran-backed group.
This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
