Countries and international organizations have condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s airports, including Saturday’s strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to Saudi authorities.

The condemnations came as the Iran-backed Yemeni militia continued its attacks on the Kingdom’s civilian aviation infrastructure, prompting calls for international action to protect civilians and prevent further escalation.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said early Sunday that the dead included four Saudi citizens and nationals of Bangladesh, Palestine, the US, Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Sudan. The 309 injured included people in critical condition.

Hours after Saturday’s attack, Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, announced that a projectile had fallen near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. He provided no further details about the incident.

The Dammam development raised further concerns over the threat to Saudi Arabia’s civilian aviation network as the conflict that began with the Iran war on Feb. 28 continued to spill across the region.

UAE condemns attacks

The United Arab Emirates has condemned the attacks by the Houthi group, and reiterated the attacks constituted a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a threat to its security and stability.”

In a statement, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the country’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the Kingdom’s security and stability.

Speaker of the Arab Parliament condemns Houthi attacks

Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, condemned the continued terrorist attacks by Houthis against Saudi Arabia.

He emphasized that targeting airports and civilian and vital facilities constitutes a violation of international law and international humanitarian law, and a breach of the rules that guarantee the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Iraq denounces Saudi airport attack, urges end to military operations

Iraq on Sunday condemned the deadly attack on Riyadh’s international airport, warning that it endangered “regional security and stability” and calling for an end to hostilities, AFP reported.

“Iraq calls for a comprehensive cessation of military operations, to spare civilians and the peoples of brotherly countries the consequences and repercussions, and to ensure that civilian facilities are protected,” the Iraqi prime minister’s spokesman Sabah Al-Numan said in a statement.

India issues condemnation

India has condemned the repeated attacks on King Khalid airport, and stressed in a statement from its external affairs ministry that “repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately.”

“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,” the statement added.

EU chief says ‘attacks at civilians must stop at once’

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meanwhile said the latest Houthi attack marked “a dangerous escalation.”

“These attacks by Iran’s proxies are pushing the region into a spiral of violence. They are destabilizing crucial global transport and energy nodes with shockwave sent through the world. These murderous attacks at civilians must stop at once,” she posted on social media

League of Arab States rejects attacks

The League of Arab States has strongly condemned the attacks and emphasized that “repeated targeting of civil aviation facilities and endangering the lives of passengers and staff represents a highly dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of international law.

“It also poses a direct threat to civil safety, international air navigation, and the security and stability of the region,” a statement on its social media account said, as the bloc also rejected the attacks.

Kuwait denounces “heinous and cowardly” Houthi attack

Kuwait, through its foreign affairs ministry, denounced the “heinous and cowardly” Houthi attack, violated international law and international humanitarian law.

“The repetition of these systematic hostile acts, which target civilian facilities and vital infrastructure, represents a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to aviation security and the safety of civilians, necessitating the accountability and prosecution of those responsible for it,” the statement read.

Canada’s Mark Carney: Houthi attacks ‘abhorrent’

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the Houthi attacks were “abhorrent”, and “there can be no justification for attacks on civilian infrastructure. No political or military objective can justify the deliberate targeting of innocent people.”

“Canada condemns these reckless acts of violence in the strongest possible terms. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wish a full recovery to those injured,” he posted on his X account.

UN chief says attacks must stop

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also strongly condemned the Houthis’ deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport.

In a post on X, the Secretary General said: “I am deeply shocked by & strongly condemn Saturday’s lethal attack by the Houthis on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which reportedly killed 12 people & injured hundreds of civilians.

Attacks on civilians & civilian infrastructure are a violation of international law. These attacks must cease immediately.”

Pakistan says attacks ‘absolutely unacceptable’

Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, meanwhile reaffirmed the country’s commitment to stand by the Kingdom, its leadership and its people.

“Based on the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, we reaffirm our commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty” and described the attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure as “absolutely unacceptable,” Sharif posted on his social media account.

Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry, in a statement, also strongly condemned the latest Houthi attack, saying: “the targeting of a civilian airport constitutes a heinous act of terrorism, a flagrant violation of international law and a grave threat to regional peace and security.”

“The continued targeting of civilian population and critical infrastructure by the Houthi militia is utterly unacceptable and must be condemned unequivocally by the international community. Such brazen and indiscriminate acts of aggression cannot be justified under any circumstances and must cease immediately.”

Two Bangladeshi nationals among those who died

Bangladesh also “strongly and unequivocally” condemned the deadly Houthi attack, which included the deaths of two Bangladeshi nationals.

“Bangladesh calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and a peaceful resolution of the ongoing crisis through dialogue and diplomacy, in the interest of regional peace, security and stability,” a statement from its foreign affairs ministry read.

Bahrain: attack a dangerous escalation

Bahrain strongly condemned the latest attack on Riyadh’s airport, describing it as a dangerous escalation following another strike on the same facility two days earlier.

In a statement carried by SPA, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said the attacks violated international law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter. It warned that they threatened regional stability, civil aviation security, and the safety of passengers and flight crews.

The ministry also cited alleged breaches of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and resolutions of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Bahrain called on the UN Security Council, ICAO and the international community to take firm measures to halt the attacks and hold those responsible, as well as their supporters, accountable. It also urged the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolutions 2216 and 2817.

Doha reaffirms solidarity with Kingdom

Qatar condemned the attacks on King Khalid International Airport as a serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, civilians and aviation safety.

Its Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Doha’s full solidarity with Riyadh and support for measures taken to protect the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. It added that Saudi Arabia’s security was integral to Qatar’s own security and that of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states.

Jordan condemns strike

Jordan also condemned the strike as a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a dangerous escalation threatening the Kingdom’s security and stability.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry reiterated its rejection of attacks on civilians, civilian objects and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, expressing full solidarity with the Kingdom and support for measures to safeguard its security and national assets.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates similarly condemned the attacks, affirming the State of Palestine’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and extending condolences over the deaths.

Cyprus condemned the attacks on King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport, saying they targeted civilians and critical infrastructure. It expressed solidarity with the Kingdom and condolences to the victims’ families.

Egypt also condemned the attacks on Riyadh’s airport and a Saudia aircraft, describing them as a flagrant violation of international law. Its Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and offered condolences over the deaths of three Saudi citizens in the attacks it addressed.

Oman conveyed its condemnation during a telephone call between Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. The Omani minister rejected attacks on civilian facilities and threats to Saudi security, while the two ministers discussed regional developments and the need for diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions.

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned Houthi attacks on Abha International Airport, King Khalid International Airport and a civilian aircraft.

The commission said those attacks had resulted in six deaths, including three Saudi citizens and three residents, and at least 36 injuries. It described the incidents as flagrant violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, urging the UN and international and regional bodies to condemn the attacks and take urgent action to prevent their recurrence.

The Council of Arab Interior Ministers’ General Secretariat also denounced Saturday’s attack, describing repeated Houthi strikes on aviation facilities and civilians as violations of international law that threatened regional security and stability.

Somalia condemned the attacks on the airports in Abha and Riyadh as grave violations of international law and threats to Saudi sovereignty and regional security. Uruguay likewise expressed solidarity with the Kingdom while voicing concern over threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait.

Uruguay stressed the importance of protecting vessels and their crews, safeguarding freedom of navigation and upholding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It also reiterated support for UN efforts to secure a comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Yemen.

The latest attacks have intensified concerns about the safety of civil aviation in Saudi Arabia. GACA said operations at King Khalid International Airport were temporarily suspended after Saturday’s strike while authorities assessed the damage.

At least 291 flights at the Riyadh airport were canceled over the preceding 24 hours, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. Several international airlines had already suspended flights to and from Riyadh and other Saudi airports for varying periods.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency had expanded its guidance on Saudi airspace, warning of the Houthis’ ability to strike deeper inside the Kingdom and a growing focus on aviation infrastructure. It said missile and drone attacks, along with interception efforts, increased the risk of civil aircraft being misidentified.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly warned against the use of Yemeni territory as a launchpad for attacks on the Kingdom and threats to regional security.

– with AFP