ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi government on Sunday condemned the deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia's capital, calling for an immediate halt to military operations and the protection of civilians amid continued attacks on the airport.
Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces, said the Iraqi government “condemns” the attack on the King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital in a Sunday statement, warning that the attack undermines regional security and stability.
Baghdad rejected further military escalation, particularly attacks affecting civilians and civilian facilities, warning that continued violence would deepen disputes and threaten regional peace.
“Iraq calls for a comprehensive cessation of military operations to spare civilians and the peoples of brotherly countries the consequences and repercussions,” the statement said.
The condemnation follows an attack on the airport on Saturday that killed 12 people and injured 309 others, according to Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation. The dead include four Saudis, two Bangladeshis and one national each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
The Saudi-led coalition blamed Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis for the strike, although the group has not explicitly claimed responsibility.
Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki on Sunday described the attack on the airport’s passenger terminal as a “full-fledged war crime,” vowing that the coalition would respond “firmly” in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The coalition had already stepped up its strikes against the Houthis following earlier attacks on Saudi airports. On Wednesday, it announced that it had destroyed 82 Houthi military targets across the Yemeni provinces of Saada, Hodeidah, al-Jawf and Marib.
On Friday, the coalition announced that it had destroyed three missile launchers in separate strikes conducted the previous day, warning that attacks on Saudi civilians and infrastructure would not go unpunished.
The surge in attacks follows an escalation in Yemen’s civil war after fighting between forces of the Saudi-backed internationally recognized government and Iran-backed Ansar Allah group, known as the Houthis, intensified in late September.
The Houthis captured large swaths of Yemen’s western coast in September, including the strategic port city of Mocha and positions around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi-backed forces launched the Dawn of Yemen operation last weekend to retake the areas.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government said last Monday its forces had retaken Mocha, Dhubab, along with strategic positions near Bab al-Mandeb, following an offensive backed by Saudi airstrikes.
The Houthis have disputed some of the Saudi-led coalition’s territorial claims. The group said it has captured al-Turbah, a strategic town on a major road linking Taiz to Aden, placing further pressure on government-held areas around Taiz.
In a Sunday statement, Yemen’s cabinet praised the recapture of Dhubab and surrounding strategic positions, saying government forces were continuing operations toward securing control of Bab al-Mandeb.
The fighting continued on Sunday, with Yemen’s government forces reporting airstrikes against Houthi positions, gatherings and vehicles east and south of Taiz. according to Saudi channel Al Arabiya English, citing local sources.
Houthi-affiliated media reported a strike on Sanaa International Airport that it attributed to Saudi Arabia. There was no immediate Saudi confirmation of that strike.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition reported another incident at King Khalid International Airport on Sunday, saying an unidentified projectile had struck Terminal 4, according to the Saudi Gazette.
The coalition said a fire broke out following the strike, prompting emergency teams to respond to the scene.
Saudi air defenses also intercepted and destroyed a cruise missile near the airport, the coalition said. No immediate casualty figures were provided for the latest incident.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree on Sunday renewed warnings to international airlines, airport workers and travelers against using Saudi airports.
The Iraqi government called for dialogue over military action and stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, air traffic and movement throughout the region.
The Kurdistan Region Presidency also condemned Saturday's attack, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia and extending condolences to the victims' families.
“We strongly condemn the attack that targeted King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, yesterday, Saturday, resulting in a number of civilian deaths and injuries,” the presidency said in a statement Sunday.
