India condemns ‘vile attack’ on Saudi airport that kills 12; Pakistan calls Houthi strikes ‘heinous’ | Today’s news
India has strongly condemned the repeated strikes by Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi airports and civilian infrastructure. In a statement on Sunday (11 October), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks “unacceptable” and said repeated attacks on civilians and civilian targets must stop immediately.
“We strongly condemn the repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in the past few days, including the dastardly attack on October 10, which resulted in loss of life, injuries and damage to property,” the ministry said.
“We offer our condolences to the families of the deceased and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” it added in a statement.
The Ministry of External Affairs said India stands in solidarity with the people and government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia “in defense of their sovereignty and hopes that peace and normalcy will return to the region as soon as possible”.
Pakistan calls Houthi strikes ‘heinous’
The ministry’s statement came as Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the Houthi strikes in Saudi Arabia.
“Attacks targeting civilians and vital infrastructure are totally unacceptable and pose a grave threat to regional peace and stability,” Sharif wrote on X, describing the attack as “heinous” and reaffirming Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia”.
12 dead and over 300 injured in latest attack on Riyadh airport
Up to 12 people were killed and more than 300 others were injured in the latest attack on the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh’s international airport, civil aviation authorities said early Sunday, as cited by the AP.
The Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. The missile hit the King Khalid International Airport complex, which houses terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights, the source said.
It was the deadliest attack in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the war with Iran, whose fronts have been widened by a recent surge in fighting between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia.
Who are the 12 people killed in the attack?
A Saudi statement said four Saudi nationals were among the dead, as well as two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a US citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian and a Sudanese. She said the injured were treated at several hospitals.
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority announced on Saturday that airport operations had been suspended. The closure was later extended by 24 hours until 9:00 p.m. Sunday, according to flight-tracking platform Flightradar 24.
