Netanyahu Condemns Houthi Attack on Riyadh Airport
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, offering condolences to the families of the 12 people killed.
Netanyahu wrote on October 11 in a post on the Prime Minister’s official X account: “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the horrific terrorist attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which claimed the lives of 12 innocent people and injured hundreds more.” On behalf of the people of Israel, he extended “our deepest condolences to the families of those murdered and our wishes for a full recovery to the injured.”
“Terrorism targets innocent people and seeks to spread fear and instability. It must be confronted with resolve,” Netanyahu wrote. He said Israel looks forward to a strong Middle East that stands united against threats, protects its people, and builds a future of security, cooperation and prosperity for all the peoples of the region.
The attack
Saudi aviation authorities said 12 people were killed and 309 injured, as reported earlier. Al Jazeera described it as the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade. The dead included four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. Airport operations were temporarily suspended while damage was assessed. An analyst quoted by Al Jazeera said the initial assessment pointed to a ballistic missile, but the weapon has not been officially confirmed.
A third attack in one week
It was the third attack on Riyadh’s airport that week. On Thursday, Houthi strikes on King Khalid airport killed at least three Saudi citizens, including a pilot, according to Saudi aviation authorities. Days earlier, attacks on the Abha and King Khalid airports reportedly killed three civilians and injured 36.
What the Houthis said
Saudi Arabia blames the Houthis, and Reuters reported that the Houthis claimed responsibility. The head of the group’s media office wrote on X that it had “shut down Riyadh international airport.” The Houthis have declared Saudi airspace a military zone, saying any aircraft there, except over Mecca and Medina, is a target, after Yemen’s government launched an offensive on Monday.
The Saudi and coalition response
The Saudi led coalition called the attack a full fledged war crime and vowed to respond decisively. Saudi Arabia is already running an air campaign in support of Yemeni government forces fighting the Iran backed Houthis.
International reaction
The United Nations secretary general condemned the attack, and the UN envoy for Yemen called it a grave escalation. Egypt, Qatar, Pakistan, Jordan, Oman, India, Japan and Canada also condemned it. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an American was among the dead.
President Donald Trump called the attack terrible and said Washington is weighing whether to join Saudi Arabia’s offensive against the Houthis; that decision is still open.
