Rubio Says US Citizen Killed in Riyadh Airport Strike; India Calls For Immediate Cessation

A strike on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed 12 people and injured 309, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Sunday.

Saudi authorities and the Saudi-led coalition blamed Yemen’s Houthi group. It was the third attack on the airport in a week, as the Houthis and Saudi Arabia continued to exchange attacks on major aviation facilities.

Some of the injured are in critical condition and are being treated at several hospitals. The authority said the attack also caused property damage that is still being assessed.

GACA said the 12 dead include four Saudi citizens and eight foreign residents: two Bangladeshis and one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.

Airport operations were temporarily suspended while authorities assessed damage and carried out safety inspections. The airport had earlier been hit on October 6 and 7, together with Abha International Airport, in attacks that GACA said killed three people and injured 36.

The Houthis claimed earlier attacks on the airport this week, which killed three Saudis including a pilot.

“MUST STOP NOW”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that an American was among the dead. “The United States strongly condemns the recent attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by the terrorist Houthis, including today’s strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that took numerous innocent lives, including an American citizen,” he wrote on X. “These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “deeply shocked” and condemned the attack. “Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are a violation of international law,” he said. “These attacks must cease immediately.”

INDIA: “COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE”

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it “strongly condemns the repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport over the past few days, including the dastardly attack on October 10.”

It expressed condolences to the families of the dead and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“The repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately,” the ministry said. “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 return to the region at the earliest.”

OTHER REACTIONS

The Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the attacks and expressed full solidarity with Riyadh.

Egypt called them a “flagrant violation” of international law and a disregard for civilian safety.

Qatar blamed the Houthis and called the strike a “serious violation” of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, civilians and civil aviation.

Flights were disrupted after the attack. Akasa Air extended the suspension of all flights to and from Riyadh until October 13, and Kuwait Airways cancelled its Riyadh services on Saturday.

The US, UK, Canada, Japan, Germany and Spain advised their citizens to avoid the airport or take caution. The US Embassy warned of possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions, and the British Foreign Office told nationals to avoid the airport until it is secure.

THE EXCHANGE OF STRIKES

The Houthis said in a statement that they remain open to reciprocal measures with Riyadh to keep key airports, ports and humanitarian facilities out of the escalating conflict.

Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported that Saudi forces had begun a fresh round of air and missile strikes on territory held by the group in Yemen, including Sanaa International Airport, areas near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and northern provinces.

A Saudi-led coalition has vowed retaliation for the airport attack, according to CBC. Reports describe the Houthi campaign against the kingdom as having started this summer.

With inputs from ANI