Uzbekistan strongly condemns the attack on Riyadh airport
On 10 October, Yemen's Houthis struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, with a ballistic missile: 12 people were killed and nearly 310 injured. Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry called the attack a serious violation of international law.
Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the attack on Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. On 10 October, Yemen's Houthis struck King Khalid International Airport with a ballistic missile; 12 people were killed and nearly 310 injured.
What happened
On 10 October, a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis hit a complex housing terminals 3 and 4 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed responsibility. Four of those killed were Saudi nationals.
The strike was the deadliest in a wave of attacks on Saudi airports since 6 October. Although Saudi air defenses intercepted several missiles, King Khalid airport was temporarily closed after the strikes.
A wave of attacks
Since 6 October, attacks on Saudi airports have killed at least 20 people and injured more than 370. On 8 October, an attack on the airport and on a Saudia Airbus A320 killed a pilot and two other Saudi nationals. These are the deadliest attacks on Saudi Arabia since the 2015 Qatif and Dammam mosque bombings.
Uzbekistan's position
In a statement issued on 11 October, Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attack, expressed condolences to the families of those killed and sympathy to the injured, and reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. The ministry called on all parties to show restraint and avoid further escalation.
“Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute a serious violation of international law and must cease immediately,” the statement said.
The second time in a month
This was the second time in a month that Uzbekistan condemned an attack directed at Saudi Arabia. On 17 September, Tashkent also strongly condemned an attempted drone attack toward holy Mecca and expressed full solidarity with the Saudis. Saudi Arabia had reported that day that it had shot down a drone heading toward Mecca's airspace.
The wider picture
The Houthi attacks on Saudi airports have intensified against the backdrop of a wider regional conflict. Saudi Arabia is home to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and each year thousands of Uzbek pilgrims travel there for Hajj and Umrah.
