The deadly strike on Riyadh airport has drawn swift condemnation from Europe and the United States, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warning it marks a “dangerous escalation” and urging the Houthis to stop attacks on civilian targets.
At least 12 people were killed and 309 others injured in a strike the airport, Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation officials said.
The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack, but a Saudi-led military coalition vowed to respond to the Yemeni group.
The Houthis also renewed their warning to airlines, airport workers and travellers against using Saudi airports.
“These attacks by Iran’s proxies are pushing the region into a spiral of violence,” Ms von der Leyen said.
“They are destabilising crucial global transport and energy nodes with shockwave sent through the world.
“These murderous attacks at civilians must stop at once,” von der Leyen wrote online, adding the EU stands in “solidarity with Saudi Arabia”.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas subsequently denounced the attack as an “appalling act of terror”.
“There can be no justification for indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure,” she posted.
Ms Kallas said she was in close contact with her Saudi counterpart and insisted enhancing cooperation between an EU naval mission in the Red Sea and a Riyadh-led maritime coalition was “vital”.
Damage seen following attack on Riyadh airport
Trump says US may join Saudi strikes on Houthis
US President Donald Trump said the United States was weighing whether to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis in the conflict, which he described as a spillover from the broader war on Iran that the US and Israel launched in February.
Asked yesterday if he had shifted his position on taking part in Saudi operations against the group, US President Donald Trump replied: “We may.”
“We’re going to look at it,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House.
“We just found out about the recent attack, so we’ll make a decision.”
Mr Trump also told reporters he “will be speaking” with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the attack.
“What happened in Saudi Arabia is not acceptable,” Mr Trump added.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting also labelled the attack as a “dangerous escalation”.
Mr Streeting said it was part of “an increasing pattern of behaviour from the Houthis that’s targeting civilian sites in Saudi Arabia”.
“This is completely contemptible action and it’s one of the reasons why the UK is providing support to Saudi Arabia in the form of air defences, but also air-to-air refuelling.
“We want to see an end to this conflict. It cannot be right that the Houthis are attacking civilian targets in this way.”
Mr Streeting said the UK is not looking at getting involved in offensive operations in Saudi Arabia.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he “firmly condemns” the deadly attack on Riyadh’s airport, which he described as “a terrorist act against Saudi Arabia and civil aviation”.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and I send my sincere condolences to their loved ones,” he wrote on X.
