PM Shehbaz condemns Houthi attack on Riyadh airport as 12 killed; Saudi-led coalition vows 'decisive' response

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced a Houthi assault on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, which resulted in 12 deaths and over 300 injuries. The premier reaffirmed Pakistan's dedication to Saudi Arabia's safety under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, emphasizing that targeting civilians and vital infrastructure was "entirely unacceptable and constitutes a serious threat to regional peace and stability."

The Saudi-led coalition vowed a resolute response against Yemen's Houthis following the attack. Four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, one US citizen, one Egyptian, one Jordanian, one Syrian, one Palestinian, and one Sudanese were among the casualties. The coalition described the strike as a "full-fledged war crime." The airport's operations were briefly halted as health officials activated a mass call-up of doctors and foreign embassies advised their citizens to avoid the facility.

The Saudi civil aviation authority reported that 155 incoming and 161 outgoing flights were canceled, while 222 flights were delayed due to the incident.