Arab, Islamic, and International Condemnation of Houthi Violations of International and Humanitarian Values and Norms

As the scope of treacherous Houthi attacks widened and they persisted in causing more civilian casualties and material damage, Arab and international condemnations of the attacks continued, as they pose a direct threat to regional security and civilian safety. The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Al-Bedawi, strongly condemned, in the harshest terms, the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia, which targeted Abha and King Khalid airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, resulting in the deaths of three individuals of Moroccan, Algerian, and Sudanese nationality and injuring dozens of civilians.

Al-Bedawi emphasized that targeting civilian airports and endangering the lives of travelers, workers, and civilians constitutes a serious escalation and a blatant violation of international laws and norms, necessitating a firm and deterrent international response, and preventing the continuation of such practices that threaten regional and international peace and security. The Secretary-General reaffirmed the GCC states’ unity in standing alongside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, expressing their full solidarity with it in facing all threats to its security, stability, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, and supporting all measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its territory, assets, and security. He expressed his sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the deceased, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

For its part, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) strongly condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks on the airports. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement published by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), stressed that these attacks represent a blatant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability. The Ministry affirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all efforts aimed at preserving its security and stability. The UAE expressed its solidarity and sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.

Similarly, Qatar condemned the Houthi militia’s targeting of the airports and the resulting casualties, describing it as a serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, civilian safety, civilian property, and air navigation. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued yesterday, reaffirmed Qatar’s full solidarity with the Kingdom and its support for all legitimate measures taken to preserve its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and interests, emphasizing that Saudi security is an integral part of Qatar’s security and the collective security system of the GCC states. The Ministry expressed Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims and the governments of their countries, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Egypt, Syria, Sudan, and Jordan also condemned the attacks on Saudi territory, expressing their strongest condemnation of the assaults and attacks, and affirming their full solidarity and support in facing threats to the Kingdom’s security and stability. Egypt stressed its support for the Kingdom in facing any actions that endanger its security or undermine its stability, emphasizing the need to put an end to these attacks and to adhere to the rules of international law and respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stated in a declaration that targeting civilian facilities and endangering civilian lives constitutes a blatant violation of international law and relevant rules and treaties, and poses a direct threat to the security of the Kingdom and the region as a whole. The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its condemnation of the attacks, reaffirming its support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both leadership and people, and backing the measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

According to international law. The Sudanese government called on the international community to take a firm stance against these attacks, work to halt them, protect civilians, and ensure the safety of air navigation.

For its part, the Arab League strongly condemned the continued attacks by the Houthi militia on the Kingdom, including the latest strikes that targeted Abha and King Khalid International Airports, resulting in casualties and injuries among citizens and residents, as well as material damage to the two airports. In a statement, the Arab League emphasized that targeting civil aviation facilities and endangering the lives of travelers and staff constitutes a highly dangerous escalation, a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, and a clear breach of international law and the UN Charter. It warned against the dangers of the continuation and expansion of these attacks, and their repeated targeting of civilian and vital infrastructure.

The Arab League reaffirmed its full solidarity with the Kingdom and its steadfast support in the face of any attacks targeting the Kingdom’s security, stability, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, stressing that the security of the Kingdom is an integral part of Arab national security.

The General Secretariat of the Muslim World League stated in a declaration that Secretary-General and President of the Council of Senior Scholars, Sheikh Mohammed al-Issa, reiterated his condemnation of these treacherous terrorist attacks, which violate religious values, international laws, and humanitarian norms. According to the statement, al-Issa reaffirmed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in all measures it takes to deter the aggressors and safeguard its security and the safety of its citizens and residents, praying to God Almighty to protect the Kingdom, its land, leadership, and people from all harm and evil.

The Arab Organization for Education, Culture and Science (ALECSO) expressed its strong condemnation yesterday of the attacks on Abha and King Khalid International Airports. It reiterated its strong denunciation of these attacks targeting the security of the Kingdom and the safety of its citizens and residents.

The United Kingdom also expressed its strong condemnation of the attacks. In a statement on the social media platform X, Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan and Pakistan at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said, “We strongly condemn the attacks that targeted Abha and the infrastructure of King Khalid International Airport.” He added, “The United Kingdom stands in solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting these reckless Houthi attacks,” noting, “Our hearts and sympathies are with the families of the victims and all those injured.”

The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation had announced that Abha and King Khalid International Airports were subjected to two attacks targeting their facilities on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to 36 others.

In this context, India condemned the targeting of the two airports, reaffirming its full solidarity and support for the people, leadership, and government of the Kingdom. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed in a statement its complete rejection of attacks on civilian infrastructure, expressing sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.