Capitals, October 11 (QNA) – Arab and international condemnations poured in following the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which left 12 civilians dead and hundreds more injured.
The censures underscored the repudiation of attacks on civilians and civilian assets, which are antithetical to the principles of international humanitarian law, and stressed the need to respect Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security, and stability while calling for an end to the military escalation in the region.
The United Arab Emirates vehemently lambasted the Houthi attacks on the airport. In a statement, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attacks flagrantly violated the Kingdom’s sovereignty, posing a threat to its security and stability. It underlined the UAE’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to safeguard the Kingdom’s security and stability.
In Baghdad, the Iraqi government condemned the attack on the airport, which resulted in casualties and material damage, undermining regional security and stability.
In a statement, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces Sabah Al Numan said the Iraqi government rejects any escalation of military and hostile actions, particularly those targeting civilians and civilian objects, as such actions deepen divisions and have inimical effects on regional peace.
He added that Iraq calls for a comprehensive cessation of military operations, shielding civilians from their consequences and preventing attacks on civilian assets that put lives in harm’s way.
Al Numan stressed that Iraq favors dialogue and understanding as alternatives to military action or violence, backs efforts to ensure freedom of navigation, aviation, and movement throughout the region, and calls for prioritizing broader economic and development interests.
In Damascus, the Syrian Arab Republic condemned the attack, stating that it constituted a breach of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a direct threat to its security, stability, civilian safety, civilian assets, and air navigation.
The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed that Syria fully stands with Saudi Arabia and backs it in all legitimate actions taken to protect its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and interests.
Syria stressed that Saudi Arabia’s security is inseparable from the security of Syria and the wider region. It called on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and take serious steps to halt attacks targeting civilian assets and imperiling regional security and the safety of its peoples.
In Beirut, Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants strongly lambasted the attack. The ministry said that attacks on critical infrastructure and civilians amount to a brazen violation of the principles of international law and the rules of international humanitarian law, reiterating its firm opposition to any infringement on Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security, or safety.
The Palestinian presidency also condemned the attack, stating that targeting civilians and civilian facilities amounts to a grave violation of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as an unacceptable assault on Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty, and stability.
The presidency affirmed the State of Palestine’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia, its leadership, and its people, and its support for the Kingdom in confronting any threat to its security, sovereignty, or the safety of its citizens and residents. It stressed that any infringement on the Kingdom’s security constitutes an unacceptable assault on regional security and stability and cannot be justified under any pretext.
On the European front, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the Houthi attack as a grave escalation, calling on the Houthis to halt their strikes on civilian targets.
Von der Leyen said the attacks were plunging the region into a spiral of violence and destabilizing key transportation and energy routes, with repercussions extending worldwide. She stressed the importance of an immediate halt to lethal attacks on civilians and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
In London, Wes Streeting condemned the deadly Houthi attack, describing it as a “dangerous escalation” and a “despicable act”.
In televised remarks, Streeting said the events unfolding in the region represented a grave escalation and reflected a growing pattern of Houthi attacks targeting civilian sites in Saudi Arabia.
In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul strongly condemned the attack on Riyadh Airport in a post on X. (QNA)