12 Victims.. One Criminal
Continuing a criminal approach that contradicts all religious and ethical values, the Houthi terrorist militias launched an attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, resulting in 12 deaths and 309 injuries among Saudi nationals and residents of various nationalities. Houthi attacks are no longer limited to threatening civilian facilities and properties; they have begun leaving behind humanitarian disasters that transcend national borders. A place that was supposed to be a gateway for travel, meetings, and work has turned into a scene of loss and pain, as people who were going about their business or waiting for their flights found themselves facing a danger they did not choose.
At King Khalid International Airport, the stories of travelers and workers intersect daily, and diverse nationalities meet under one roof, united by the hope of reaching their destinations safely. However, yesterday’s attack on the airport shattered this scene, leaving behind victims and families facing the shock of loss. The repercussions of the attack did not stop at the site of the targeting; they extended to countries and families who lost their sons or are awaiting news of the injured. This reflects how a single attack can leave wounds spread across multiple countries, uniting different families in a shared experience of grief and shock.
The airport, which brings people together in the hope of arrival, has left families facing the pain of absence. Behind each victim is a story, a family, and unfulfilled dreams; behind each injury is a journey of treatment, anxiety, and waiting. Thus, the toll of the attack has transformed from mere numbers into a humanitarian disaster experienced by families in multiple locations.
The treacherous attack has sparked a wave of Arab and international condemnation rejecting the targeting of civilians and vital facilities, with emphasis on solidarity with the Kingdom in confronting Houthi terrorism and the importance of respecting the rules of international humanitarian law, which prohibit deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian objects.
For his part, the Coalition for Legitimacy Support condemned the cowardly attack, describing the assault on King Khalid International Airport as a “complete war crime.” Coalition spokesperson Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki affirmed that the Coalition would respond firmly to the attack in accordance with customary international humanitarian law, a stance reflecting the severity of targeting a civilian facility and the wide-ranging human losses it caused.
