By Clement Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300 others, calling for an immediate end to attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Guterres expressed shock over Saturday’s attack in a statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, warning that such assaults violate international law and must cease immediately.
“I am deeply shocked by & strongly condemn Saturday’s lethal attack by the Houthis on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which reportedly killed 12 people & injured hundreds of civilians,” the UN chief said.
He added that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute a violation of international law, stressing the urgent need to halt the violence.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, October 10, 2026, has heightened security concerns across the Gulf region and intensified international condemnation of the escalating conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, the casualties included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. More than 300 people were reportedly injured, with some in critical condition and receiving treatment in hospitals.
Precise Post recalls that the Airport operations were temporarily suspended following the incident as authorities assessed the damage and worked to establish the safety of the facilities. The disruption also affected air travel, with flights cancelled or diverted and passengers advised to confirm their flight status with their airlines before travelling to the airport.
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen blamed the Iran-backed Houthi movement for the attack, describing it as a serious violation of international humanitarian law and warning of a decisive response.
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, are an armed political and military movement based in Yemen that has been engaged in a prolonged conflict with Yemen’s internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia and its regional allies.
The latest incident came amid a renewed escalation in hostilities, with King Khalid International Airport reportedly targeted in multiple attacks during the week. Earlier strikes had also resulted in fatalities, further raising concerns about the safety of civilian aviation facilities and the potential for the conflict to spread across the region.
The attack was attributed to the Houthis, who have conducted missile and drone operations against Saudi targets during the conflict. Reports indicated that the group claimed responsibility for the latest strike, although the immediate security and diplomatic consequences remained a concern for regional and international authorities.
Guterres’ condemnation underscores the United Nations’ call for the protection of civilians and essential civilian infrastructure during armed conflict. International humanitarian law requires parties to a conflict to distinguish between civilians and combatants and prohibits deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian objects.
The UN chief’s demand for an immediate cessation of such attacks comes as concerns grow over the humanitarian consequences of the escalating confrontation and the risk of further civilian casualties.
The deadly airport strike has renewed calls for restraint, protection of innocent lives and efforts to prevent further escalation in the already volatile Middle East.
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