In a massive missile attack carried out by the Houthi group in Yemen on Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia, 13 people, including one Indian, were killed. More than 300 people, including 10 Indians, were injured.
For several years, a civil war has been going on in Yemen between government forces and Houthi fighters. In this conflict, Saudi Arabia has been supporting the government forces. Iran is supporting the Houthi fighters.
Because Saudi Arabia supports Yemen’s government forces, the conflict between that country and the Houthi group began in 2015. In this situation, a ceasefire agreement between the two sides was signed in 2022. Since then, the two sides had not been engaged in conflict for four years. However, after Saudi Arabia carried out an attack on Sana’a airport last July, fighting broke out again.
In this situation, the Houthi forces carried out a sudden attack a few days ago on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Three people were killed in it. On Saturday as well, the Houthi forces launched a missile and carried out a major attack on the domestic terminals at this airport.
In this attack, 13 people, including an Indian, were killed. More than 300 people, including 10 Indians, were injured. The condition of many of the injured is critical. Of the 12 people who died, 4 were Saudi nationals. Of the remaining 8, 2 were Bangladeshis. In addition, one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Sudan, and Palestine were killed.
This is considered the largest attack on Saudi Arabia since the war between Iran and the United States began in West Asia. As a result, war tensions in West Asia have further escalated.
Houthi threat: Following this attack, Houthi terrorists have threatened to attack all airports in Saudi Arabia.
Appropriate retaliation - Saudi Arabia: Following the missile attack, Riyadh airport has been temporarily closed. Saudi Arabia has accused this attack of being a major war crime. The country has also announced that it will deliver an appropriate retaliatory response from its side.
Reports have emerged that Saudi Arabia’s stock of air defense systems capable of intercepting and destroying missiles and drones in the air has decreased, and that as a result Saudi Arabia has requested air defense systems from France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt.
India condemns: India, the United States, Canada, Pakistan, Qatar, Palestine, Jordan, Malaysia, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, among others, have condemned the attack on Riyadh airport.
In a statement issued by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, it said that it strongly condemns the repeated attacks on Riyadh airport, that attacks targeting innocent people and infrastructure are unacceptable, and that India extends its support to the Saudi government and the people of that country at this critical moment.
Oman-Saudi consultation: Oman was initially involved in mediation efforts between Iran and the United States. Following the attack on Riyadh airport, the Saudi Arabian foreign minister spoke with Oman’s foreign minister. It is said that he discussed diplomatic efforts being taken to ease the tensions prevailing in West Asia.
Trump’s comment: Condemning the attack on Riyadh airport, U.S. President Trump said that the United States is considering whether to take part in the retaliatory strike to be carried out against the Houthi group.
The deceased was from Hyderabad: It has been learned that the Indian who died in the attack on Riyadh airport was Mohammed Yusuf (46), from Mehdipatnam in Hyderabad, Telangana state.
He worked as an information technology employee in Riyadh and had traveled to Saudi Arabia with his wife, two sons, and daughter. The attack took place while he and his family were waiting at the airport to travel to Medina. Mohammed Yusuf died in the incident, and his family members were seriously injured.
