New Delhi: India has strongly condemned the recent attacks targeting Abha International Airport and King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, where three civilians were killed and 36 others were injured. New Delhi described attacks on civilian infrastructure as unacceptable and expressed solidarity with the people and government of Saudi Arabia.
The attacks, which took place separately on October 6 and 7, have triggered heightened security measures across Saudi Arabia and raised fresh concerns over the escalating conflict involving Yemen's Houthi rebels.
According to Saudi aviation authorities, Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia was targeted on October 6, while King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh came under attack the following day.
The attack on Abha left two people dead and 28 injured. The victims included Moroccan and Algerian women. A separate attack near King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed a Sudanese national and injured eight people.
Saudi authorities moved the injured to hospitals, assessed damage at the affected facilities and reviewed safety measures to protect passengers, airport staff and other civilians.
The attacks have raised concerns over the vulnerability of civilian aviation infrastructure amid growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement operating from Yemen.
India Backs Saudi Arabia Amid Rising Tensions
India condemned the attacks on both airports and stressed that civilian infrastructure should not be targeted during armed conflicts.
New Delhi conveyed condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. India also reaffirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its people at a time when the wider Middle East is facing mounting security challenges.
The Indian response comes against the backdrop of close strategic, economic and people-to-people ties between India and Saudi Arabia. Any prolonged disruption to Saudi aviation, energy infrastructure or regional transport routes could have wider implications for countries with strong economic links to the Gulf.
Houthis Claim Attacks, Saudi Coalition Launches Retaliatory Strikes
Yemen’s Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that the group had carried out missile attacks targeting Saudi and Saudi-backed positions.
Saudi Arabia responded with an intensified military campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition said it had destroyed 82 Houthi military targets following the attacks on civilian facilities.
The targets reportedly included ballistic missile sites, missile and weapons storage facilities, command and control centres, communications systems and locations used to gather Houthi forces.
The coalition also said it had destroyed 11 mountain-based ballistic missile storage facilities in Yemen's Saada region. A ballistic missile launch platform in Sanaa was also reportedly destroyed while it was being prepared for an imminent attack against Saudi Arabia.
The escalation marks another dangerous phase in the long-running Saudi-Houthi confrontation, with civilian airports increasingly caught up in the conflict.
GCC Condemns Attacks On Airports
The Gulf Cooperation Council has also condemned the attacks, describing the targeting of civilians and civilian facilities as a serious violation of international norms.
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi warned that attacks against airports pose a direct threat to passengers, aviation workers and civilians and could further destabilize regional security.
The latest violence has also prompted warnings about possible disruptions to air travel. The US Mission in Saudi Arabia advised American citizens to remain highly vigilant, citing continuing Houthi threats to airports and airspace and warning that flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruptions could occur.
Why Saudi Airport Attacks Matter
The attacks are significant beyond their immediate casualty toll because they target major civilian aviation hubs. Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport is one of Saudi Arabia’s key gateways, while Abha serves the country’s southwestern region.
Repeated attacks on airports can disrupt passenger movement, commercial aviation and cargo operations while forcing authorities to divert resources toward air defense and security.
The latest escalation also comes as tensions across the broader Middle East remain elevated. Disruptions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen can have consequences for regional trade, energy markets, shipping routes and international travel.
The developments are particularly significant for India because of its extensive economic and strategic engagement with Gulf countries and the large Indian community living and working across the region.
Regional Security Concerns Grow
The Saudi-Houthi escalation is unfolding alongside wider instability across the Middle East, increasing concerns about the possibility of the conflict spreading across multiple fronts. The use of missiles and attacks on civilian infrastructure could further complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at containing regional tensions. For Saudi Arabia, protecting airports, energy installations and other strategic infrastructure remains a major security priority.
For India, the immediate focus is on the safety of civilians, Indians living in the region and the uninterrupted movement of people and trade between India and the Gulf. With Saudi Arabia increasing its military response and the Houthis continuing to claim missile operations, attention is now on whether the latest escalation will remain contained or develop into a broader regional confrontation.