Riyadh airport hit by projectile a day after deadly missile strike

Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport was struck again on Sunday following a Houthi missile attack in Yemen that claimed 13 lives and injured over 300 people, prompting widespread condemnation from international bodies such as the UN, the EU, and the UAE. The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government reported a projectile hitting Terminal 4, igniting a fire, while another missile was deflected.

Airport operations were halted following Saturday's deadly assault. Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree warned all air shipping companies, experts, employees, and travelers to avoid Saudi airports and airspace, citing them as potential targets. The Indian embassy in Riyadh disclosed that an Indian citizen injured in Saturday's attack had succumbed.

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation is currently assessing the damage and evaluating the safety of the facilities. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the assault, stating it was among four Saudi targets struck in the preceding 24 hours. They also alleged targeting Saudi oil company Aramco's Shugadam gas site, Tanajib oil refinery in Eastern Province, and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, though these claims remain unverified by Saudi authorities.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed profound shock at Saturday's attack, denouncing it as a violation of international law and urging an immediate cessation of such indiscriminate actions against civilians and infrastructure. The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, characterized the attack as an "appalling act of terror," offering condolences to the families of the deceased and wishing the injured a swift recovery.

She emphasized the importance of close coordination with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and called for enhanced collaboration between the EU's Red Sea naval Operation Aspides and the Saudi-led Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition. The UAE vehemently condemned the Houthi attacks, calling them a "flagrant violation" of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability.

It reaffirmed its unwavering support for Saudi Arabia and pledged to take all necessary measures to safeguard the kingdom's security and stability. Pakistan and Turkey, signatories to a defense pact with Saudi Arabia in August, also decried the attack. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the assault "completely unacceptable," insisting that strikes on civilians and critical infrastructure be halted immediately.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry reiterated its support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, insisting that any actions threatening regional security and stability must cease immediately. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the incident as a "horrific terrorist attack," emphasizing the need for a united Middle East to confront such threats and protect its citizens.

Russia condemned the attack, urging a diplomatic resolution to the Middle East crisis that takes into account the interests of all regional nations. Egypt condemned the ongoing attacks on Saudi Arabia, describing them as a blatant violation of international law and pledged to repatriate the body of an Egyptian citizen killed in the assault.

British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband expressed profound distress over the airport attack, urging British nationals to avoid the airport, heed Saudi authorities' advice, and consult the UK government's travel guidance for the region. Kuwait also condemned the attack as an affront to international law and international humanitarian law, reiterating its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and warning that such actions jeopardize civil aviation and civilian safety. Iraq likewise condemned the attack, calling for a comprehensive halt to military operations.