The Arab League, alongside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and regional allies, has issued a sharp condemnation following a series of Houthi drone and missile strikes targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which left three dead and 36 injured. Houthi Saudi Strikes
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), the cross-border strikes occurred over a 24-hour window. The strike on Abha International Airport killed two female residents and injured 28 travelers, while a separate strike on King Khalid International Airport in the capital resulted in one fatality and eight injuries. GACA confirmed material damage to both facilities, though emergency protocols contained operational fallout. In response, Saudi-led coalition forces launched retaliatory strikes against 82 Houthi military targets across Yemen.
The Arab League denounced the deliberate targeting of civil aviation infrastructure as a reckless escalation and a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi characterized the strikes as terrorist acts against essential public assets, reaffirming member states’ unified commitment to Saudi Arabia’s territorial sovereignty.
Diplomatic responses poured in across the region, with Jordan, Egypt, Syria, and Bahrain expressing full solidarity with Riyadh. Ministries of foreign affairs across Arab capitals emphasized that assaults on civilian transportation hubs destabilize regional civil aviation safety and jeopardize ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing regional stability. Arab News TV
