India condemns ‘dastardly attack’ on Saudi Arabia airport that killed 12; Pakistan calls Houthi strikes ‘heinous’

Saudi Arabia-Houthi conflict: The Ministry of External Affairs called the attacks “unacceptable” and said the repeated attacks on civilians and civilian targets must cease immediately.

India strongly condemned repeated strikes by the Iran-backed Houthis on Saudi Arabian airports and civilian infrastructure. In a statement on Sunday (October 11), the Ministry of External Affairs called the attacks “unacceptable” and said the repeated attacks on civilians and civilian targets must cease immediately.

“We strongly condemn the repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport over the past few days, including the dastardly attack on October 10, which have led to loss of lives, injuries and damage to property,” the ministry said.

“We express our condolences to the families of the deceased and wish speedy recovery to the injured persons,” it added in its statement.

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A missile struck an airport complex housing terminals 3 and 4. The attack killed 12 people and injured more than 300, according to the reports cited in the article.

A Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen for the attack.

India said repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure were unacceptable and called for them to cease immediately. It also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the strikes “heinous” and said attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure were unacceptable. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Airport operations were suspended, and the closure was later extended until 9 pm Sunday. Flights were diverted or cancelled, and passengers were advised to check their flight status with airlines.

The Ministry of External Affairs said India stands 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.”

Pakistan calls Houthi strikes ‘heinous’

The ministry's remarks came as Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the Houthis' strikes in Saudi Arabia.

"Attacks targeting civilians and vital infrastructure are utterly unacceptable and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability," Sharif posted on X, describing the attack as "heinous" and reaffirming Pakistan's "steadfast commitment to Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity".

12 killed and over 300 hurt in latest attack on Riyadh airport

As many as 12 people were killed and over 300 others were injured in the latest attack on the international airport in Saudi Arabia's capital of Riyadh, civil aviation authorities was quoted by the Associated Press as saying early Sunday.

A Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen. A missile struck a King Khalid International Airport complex housing terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights, a source claimed.

It was the deadliest attack in any Gulf Arab country since the start of the Iran war, whose fronts have expanded to include the recent surge in fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces.

Who are the 12 people killed in the attack?

The Saudi statement said the dead included four Saudi citizens as well as two Bangladeshi nationals, a Palestinian, a US citizen, an Egyptian, a Jordanian, a Syrian and a Sudanese. It said the injured were being treated at several hospitals.

Saudi civil aviation authorities on Saturday said airport operations were suspended. The closure was later extended by 24 hours until 9 pm Sunday, according to the flight tracking platform Flightradar 24.

About the Author

Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry.<br><br> In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration. <br><br> Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience. <br><br> One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections. <br><br> When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand. <br><br> Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism.<br><br> Connect with Akriti here<br> LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199">https://www.linkedin.com/in/akriti-anand-868285199</a><br> Twitter/X: <a href="https://x.com/AkritiAnand7">https://x.com/AkritiAnand7</a><br> Email: akriti.anand@htdigital.in