Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye condemn Houthi attacks after fresh strike kills one, injures 11 in Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have strongly condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Pakistani foreign ministry stated late Sunday, with the three nations reaffirming their support for Riyadh’s countermeasures.

The statement followed reports that a Pakistani national was killed and 11 others injured during an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Sunday, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) amid sustained assaults on the Kingdom’s civil aviation facilities.

This Sunday’s strike marked the fourth attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport within a five-day span, attributed to the Iran‑backed Houthi militia operating out of Yemen. The latest assault arrived one day after a missile strike that claimed 13 lives and wound over 300 individuals, underscoring the deadliest occurrence among recent attacks.

In its coordinated statement released by the R4 Group encompassing Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, the bloc denounced the ongoing Houthi campaign against the Kingdom—resulting in civilian fatalities and injuries—as well as the damage inflicted upon civilian infrastructure and facilities. Officials characterized the strikes as violations of international law.

“The Group places ultimate responsibility on the Houthi militia for the outcomes of these attacks and any subsequent repercussions that endanger regional and international peace and security, and demands the immediate and unconditional cessation of these operations,” the joint declaration read from the Pakistani foreign ministry.

“The Group further affirms its solidarity with and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, extending full backing for every legitimate measure and action taken to neutralize these attacks, disrupt their sources, and prevent future occurrences, in defense of the Kingdom’s security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

Sunday’s strike unfolded while the Kingdom hosted a pivotal international energy conference in Riyadh, alongside other high‑profile gatherings, including an upcoming investment summit. Early Monday, Saudi Arabia disseminated footage captured by security personnel documenting the event.

The footage portrayed individuals—many attired in the white garments of Umrah pilgrims—queueing in a bustling venue, juxtaposed with visitors scanning mobile devices near adjacent seating areas just before a blinding explosion erupted, witnesses falling backward and retreating toward safety.

Houthi rebels in Yemen have escalated assaults against Saudi aviation installations recently, occurring as the broader U.S.–Iran conflict persists. Their campaign included strikes on airports in Riyadh and Abha on October 6 and 7 that resulted in three fatalities and thirty‑six injuries.

Pakistan, which concluded a bilateral defense pact with Saudi Arabia in September 2025 and a trilateral accord involving the Kingdom and Turkey earlier this year, has warned the Houthis against targeting Saudi territory in prior communications.

“We possess bilateral safeguards and trilateral commitments regarding the defense of Saudi Arabia,” said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during televised cabinet briefings on Sunday. “Pakistan will not permit any form of aggression under any circumstances. Our accords require it, and our bonds of brotherhood demand the same.”

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