India condemns Riyadh airport attack and calls for civilian protection
India has condemned repeated attacks on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia after a deadly Saturday strike.
New Delhi responds to the Saturday strike
India condemned repeated attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, on Sunday, October 11, after a strike the previous day killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300. Separate reports from The Indian Express and NDTV carried the Ministry of External Affairs’ response.
The ministry called for attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure to stop immediately. Its statement referred specifically to the October 10 attack and to other strikes on the airport over the preceding days. India expressed condolences to bereaved families and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
India condemns attack on Riyadh airport, expresses solidarity with Saudi ArabiaUnacceptable: India on missile attack on Riyadh airport that killed 12Solidarity with Saudi Arabia
New Delhi said it stood with Saudi Arabia’s people and government in defence of the kingdom’s sovereignty, while expressing hope that peace and normalcy would return. The Indian Express reported that the statement followed an earlier Indian condemnation of attacks on Saudi airports on October 8.
That earlier response also included an advisory asking Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert and vigilant, the newspaper reported. It put the Indian community in the kingdom at approximately 2.74 million, including skilled and semi-skilled professionals.
India condemns attack on Riyadh airport, expresses solidarity with Saudi ArabiaAirport disruption and attribution
NDTV reported that flights were diverted from Riyadh on Saturday and airport operations were temporarily suspended. Its report said the missile struck the complex containing domestic terminals 3 and 4.
The broadcaster said a Saudi-led coalition blamed Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the strike. The Indian Express reported that the Houthis had not claimed responsibility for this attack. The two accounts therefore distinguish the coalition’s attribution from a claim by the group itself.
India condemns attack on Riyadh airport, expresses solidarity with Saudi ArabiaUnacceptable: India on missile attack on Riyadh airport that killed 12