India on Sunday strongly condemned the latest attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which killed 12 people and injured 309, calling repeated strikes against civilians and civilian infrastructure “completely unacceptable”.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the attacks must stop immediately and expressed solidarity with the Saudi government and people. New Delhi also voiced hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region at the earliest.
The October 10 strike was the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade, amid an escalating conflict involving Iran, the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen and Saudi-backed forces. The Houthis have intensified their campaign against Saudi targets as the wider regional war spreads to additional fronts.
MEA condemns repeated attacks on Riyadh airport
In its statement, the MEA said India strongly condemned repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport over the preceding days, including the “dastardly attack” on October 10, which caused loss of life, injuries and property damage.
“The repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately,” the ministry said.
India reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia in protecting its sovereignty and expressed condolences over the deaths, alongside wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured.
The latest condemnation followed an earlier statement issued by India on October 8, in which it denounced attacks targeting both King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport. Those strikes had also resulted in civilian casualties.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh had separately advised Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert and vigilant amid the deteriorating security situation.
Victims from eight countries as casualties reach 309
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said the October 10 attack killed 12 people and injured 309 others. The fatalities included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis and one person each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt.
Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition and were receiving treatment in hospitals. Emergency services responded to the incident as ambulances and helicopters transported casualties for medical care.
The missile reportedly struck the King Khalid International Airport complex, which includes Terminals 3 and 4, used for domestic flights. The attack caused damage to airport property, with authorities assessing the full extent of the destruction.
Airport operations were temporarily suspended to allow officials to assess the damage and verify the safety of facilities. The strike also disrupted air travel, prompting flight cancellations and operational changes.
The incident came after two earlier attacks on the airport during the same week. Those strikes killed four people and caused extensive damage to a Saudi commercial aircraft parked on the tarmac, according to the reports.
Houthi-Saudi conflict intensifies amid wider regional war
The attack has heightened concerns over the growing reach of strikes against Saudi infrastructure. The Iran-backed Houthis have been stepping up their campaign as fighting expands across the region.
The conflict has also spread to other fronts, including a recent escalation in clashes between the Houthis and Yemeni government forces backed by Saudi Arabia. The latest violence adds to instability in Yemen, where the Houthis have long fought the internationally recognised government.
Although the Houthis have claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on Saudi targets, they had not publicly claimed responsibility for the October 10 airport strike at the time of the latest reports. The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen blamed the Houthis for the attack and described the strike on the passenger terminal as a war crime, warning that it would respond.
The assault has also raised concerns about the safety of civilian infrastructure and the wider consequences of the conflict for regional security and international travel.
Trump says US may join Saudi strikes
US President Donald Trump said Washington was considering joining Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the Houthis following the latest attack.
Asked by reporters whether the United States would participate in Saudi strikes, Trump said: “We may. We’re going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision. We move very quickly.”
His remarks left open the possibility of a greater US role in the conflict, although no decision had been announced.
The attack has drawn international concern as the conflict continues to widen, with civilian casualties, damage to critical infrastructure and disruption to air travel adding to fears of a further deterioration in regional security.