Saudi Grand Mufti: Houthi targeting civilian facilities and pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques is among the gravest crimes - Sarmad

Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan described the Houthi group’s targeting of civilian facilities and pilgrims visiting the Two Holy Mosques as among the gravest crimes.

Al-Fawzan stated that “the terrorist Houthi militia’s targeting of civilian infrastructure and the taking of innocent lives, including pilgrims to the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, constitutes one of the most serious crimes for which God has threatened perpetrators with severe punishment.”

The Mufti added, “We ask God Almighty to put an end to these criminals and to protect our country and the lands of Muslims.”

The Mufti’s remarks came after an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that the incident occurred on Saturday, October 10, resulting in 12 deaths and 309 injuries. The authority clarified that the casualty figures encompass all victims of the airport attack, without specifying how many were Umrah pilgrims. The Al Arabiya channel had previously broadcast footage showing several pilgrims inside the airport prior to the attack.

Spokesman for the coalition forces, Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, stated that targeting one of the passenger terminals, which resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, amounts to a fully constituted war crime.