Iraq and Kurdistan Region condemn deadly Riyadh airport attack

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region Presidency on Sunday condemned Saturday’s attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which killed at least 12 people and wounded 309, with Baghdad calling for an immediate halt to military operations across the region.

“The Iraqi government condemns the attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which resulted in innocent casualties and human and material losses, harming regional security and stability,” said Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Baghdad rejected any escalation, particularly attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and warned that continued violence would deepen divisions in the region, Numan said. The government called for “a comprehensive halt to military operations,” urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and backed dialogue over military action and freedom of navigation, aviation and movement across the region.

“We strongly condemn the attack that took place yesterday, Saturday, on the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which resulted in a number of casualties and injuries among the people,” the Kurdistan Region Presidency said in a statement from Erbil, offering condolences to the Saudi leadership, government and people and to the victims’ families. “We reiterate our support and solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and emphasize the necessity of protecting civilian lives, halting tensions, and safeguarding the security and stability of the region.”

The dead were four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and one person each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Sudan, according to Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority, and airport operations were suspended. It was the third attack on the airport in a week and the deadliest on Saudi soil in more than a decade; the two earlier attacks killed four people, including a Saudia pilot, and a separate attack on Abha airport killed two. The Houthis have not formally claimed Saturday’s attack, though the head of their media office said the group had “shut down Riyadh international airport.” The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Iran-backed group, called the attack a “full-fledged war crime” and vowed to respond.

The informal truce that had held between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis since April 2022 broke down in July, and fighting has since intensified, with Saudi-backed government forces launching an offensive along the Red Sea coast, Saudi airstrikes on Houthi-held territory, and Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and other infrastructure. U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Washington was considering joining Saudi strikes against the group. The United Nations and countries including Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and Oman also condemned the airport attack.

Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline was struck on Sept. 11 by drones that Iraqi authorities said had been launched from Maysan, near the Iranian border.