The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft, which killed three Saudi nationals and wounded several civilians.
In a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Friday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the strikes as a flagrant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a direct threat to the kingdom’s security and stability.
The ministry reaffirmed Abu Dhabi’s full solidarity with Riyadh and expressed support for measures aimed at protecting Saudi territory, maintaining security and safeguarding civilian infrastructure.
The UAE also extended its condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The condemnation followed two attacks on Thursday targeting facilities at King Khalid International Airport and an aircraft belonging to Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia.
Saudi aviation authorities confirmed on Friday that three citizens had been killed, including Saudia captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami, while several other people sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe.
Saudia said its aircraft was on the ground when it was damaged and confirmed that no passengers were aboard at the time.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, which disrupted operations at one of Saudi Arabia’s busiest international aviation hubs.
Airport authorities subsequently announced the resumption of flight operations, although the strikes prompted widespread cancellations and renewed concerns over aviation safety across the region.
The latest incidents come amid escalating hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, raising fears of further attacks on civilian infrastructure and threatening security around the Red Sea.
The renewed fighting has also heightened concerns over maritime traffic near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and one of the world’s most important commercial shipping routes.
