India condemns ‘dastardly attack’ on Saudi Arabia airport that killed 12; Pakistan calls Houthi strikes ‘heinous’

At least 12 people were killed and more than 300 injured in the missile attack. It struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport complex, housing terminals 3 and 4.

Those figures show the attack’s severe human cost and why India called repeated strikes on civilians unacceptable. The terminals serve domestic flights, making the airport a major civilian target. On Saturday, a missile hit the complex, according to reports cited by the article. A Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, while Saudi authorities said victims included citizens and foreign nationals.

Airport operations were suspended after the strike, and the closure continued until 9 p.m. Sunday. Flights were diverted or cancelled, so passengers had to check directly with airlines. India and Pakistan condemned the attack and called for strikes on civilians and vital infrastructure to stop.

The Houthis are an armed movement from neighbouring Yemen, backed by Iran and fighting Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. Their conflict matters beyond Yemen because it has repeatedly threatened Saudi territory and regional stability.

After a missile struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport on October 10, a Saudi-led coalition blamed the Houthis. The missile hit terminals 3 and 4, killing 12 people and injuring more than 300. The accusation followed a recent wave of Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia after a July truce collapsed.

Saudi Arabia called the attack a full-fledged war crime, while India and Pakistan condemned attacks on civilians. Airport operations were suspended, and flights were diverted or cancelled. The episode showed how fighting involving the Houthis can disrupt civilian infrastructure and international air travel. India said such attacks must cease immediately and supported Saudi sovereignty.

Yemen’s war pits the Houthi movement against the internationally recognized government, which Saudi Arabia supports. Saudi Arabia entered to defend its border and influence Yemen’s political future. It also sought to counter Iran’s support for the Houthis.

The conflict escalated after a truce in the Houthis’ long-running war with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government unravelled in July. Since then, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have surged, including a missile strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The attack showed how Yemen’s internal conflict can reach civilian targets far beyond the battlefield.

That October 10 attack killed 12 people and injured more than 300, according to reports cited. Saudi Arabia suspended airport operations, while India and Pakistan called attacks on civilians unacceptable. The continuing strikes threaten regional stability and civilian infrastructure, making diplomacy and protection of noncombatants urgent.

Airport operations were suspended after the missile struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport. The closure was later extended until 9 pm Sunday, disrupting travel and airport services.

Flights were diverted or cancelled while authorities kept the airport closed. Passengers were advised to check their flight status directly with airlines, since schedules could change.

The disruption followed an attack on a complex housing Terminals 3 and 4. Reports said the strike killed 12 people and injured more than 300. The airport shutdown meant travelers faced delays, cancellations, and uncertainty about their journeys. They needed to confirm arrangements before going to the airport. The article does not specify when normal operations resumed.

International law requires armed forces to distinguish civilians and civilian places from military targets. It forbids deliberate attacks on civilians and attacks expected to cause excessive civilian harm. These rules matter because they protect lives, essential services, and basic safety during war.

In the article, a missile struck Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport complex on October 10. Reports said 12 people died and more than 300 were injured. Pakistan’s prime minister called the strike a violation of international law. He said it targeted civilians and vital infrastructure, rather than a lawful military target.

The Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Airport operations stopped, flights were diverted or cancelled, and the closure lasted until 9 pm Sunday. Repeated attacks can deepen regional instability, while accountability depends on establishing facts and applying the law fairly.

The truce was a pause in the long-running war between Yemen’s Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. When it unravelled in July, fighting resumed and removed a major restraint on Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.

The source describes an unprecedented wave of strikes after the truce collapsed. On October 10, a missile hit Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, killing 12 people and injuring more than 300. The Saudi-led coalition blamed Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen. The collapse coincided with intensified attacks, though the article does not explain the Houthis’ specific planning.

The attacks disrupted civilian life and regional security. Airport operations stopped, and the closure extended until 9 pm Sunday, with flights diverted or cancelled. India called the strikes unacceptable and demanded an immediate end to attacks on civilians. Pakistan called them heinous and warned they threatened regional peace. The airport served domestic terminals three and four.

The agreement creates a collective-defense principle among its signatories. An attack against one can be treated as an attack against all, making aggression against one country a wider security concern. Its purpose is to strengthen deterrence and encourage members to stand together.

For example, the article says a missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured over 300. If the agreement’s principle were applied, Saudi Arabia could seek support from the other signatories because the attack would concern the entire group. The article does not say that the pact was formally activated.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, territory, and security. The agreement was signed on August 7, and Türkiye is also a participant. In practice, collective support could involve diplomatic, security, or defense measures, depending on members’ decisions and the circumstances.