Deadly Riyadh Airport Attack Draws Global Condemnation
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 11 (Bernama) – A wave of international condemnation has followed Saturday’s deadly attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, with world leaders denouncing strikes on civilians and critical infrastructure and calling for an immediate end to the violence.
The attack killed at least 12 people, including four Saudis and two Bangladeshis, and injured 309 others, according to the Saudi civil aviation authority.
The United States, European Union (EU), India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were among those condemning the attack, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and warning of its implications for regional peace and stability.
India strongly condemned the repeated attacks on Riyadh's airport, describing attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure as unacceptable, Anadolu Ajansi reported.
"We stand in solidarity with the people and the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in defence of their sovereignty, and hope that peace and normalcy returns to the region at the earliest," its Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.
Pakistan also condemned the attack, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warning that assaults on civilians and critical infrastructure posed a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
He said such acts of violence, which are a flagrant violation of international law, must cease immediately.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's "unwavering solidarity" with Saudi Arabia and its commitment to the Kingdom's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement.
Bangladesh “strongly and unequivocally” condemned the attack, which claimed the lives of two of its nationals, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians.
“Attacks endangering civilian lives and targeting civilian infrastructure are unacceptable and must cease immediately,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Syria also condemned the deadly attack on Riyadh's airport "in the strongest terms", stressing that Saudi Arabia's security was an "integral part of the security of Syria and the entire region".
In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry described the attack as "a violation of the Kingdom's sovereignty and a direct threat to its security and stability, as well as to the safety of civilians, civilian facilities, and air navigation".
It called on the international community to take concrete action to halt attacks on civilian infrastructure that threaten regional stability and endanger civilian lives.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the attack as an "appalling act of terror", stressing that there could be no justification for indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
"The Houthi attack on Riyadh’s international airport is an appalling act of terror. There can be no justification for indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," she said in a post on X on Sunday.
She said EU foreign ministers would discuss escalating regional tensions on Monday, stressing the importance of enhanced coordination between the EU's Red Sea naval operation Aspides and the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as "reprehensible" and calling for an immediate halt to the violence.
Expressing solidarity with Riyadh and the Saudi people, Rubio also extended condolences to those who lost their lives in the attack and their families.
President Donald Trump separately described the recent Houthi attacks as "very bad" and "terrible things", while expressing confidence in Saudi Arabia's ability to defend itself.
Meanwhile, Ukraine also strongly denounced the deadly missile attack on Riyadh's airport, describing attacks on civilian infrastructure as a "flagrant violation" of international law.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, reaffirming Kyiv's unwavering support for the Kingdom's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to the families of those killed in this brutal attack, and to the countries whose citizens were among the victims. We wish a swift recovery to all those injured,” he said in a post on X on Sunday.
Anadolu Ajansi reported that the attack came amid heightened regional tensions following a series of Houthi missile and drone strikes targeting Saudi airports and other facilities in recent days.
-- BERNAMA
