Saudi Arabia’s southern Abha Airport successfully rebooted both domestic and international flights only hours after being hit by a terror attack staged by Iran-backed Houthi militias based in neighboring Yemen.
In the drone assault, a Syrian national was killed and as many as 21 victims that included women and children from five different nationalities were injured.
Iranian Involvement
“The terrorist attack resulted in martyring a Syrian national and injuring seven civilians,” Arab Coalition Spokesman Colonel Turki Al Maliki said in the post-attack press release.
He also revealed that the 21 injured included four Indian nationals, two Egyptians, 13 Saudis, and two Bangladeshis.
Maliki lambasted the Houthis incessant violation of international and humanitarian law and conventions when systematically targeting civilians and committing war crimes.
Houthis militias, for their part, claimed responsibility for the Abha airport attack in a news brief circulated by the group’s affiliated media outlets. In the claim, Houthis said the assault was staged by Ababil-T drones, an Iranian multirole UAV.
Iranian weaponry used by Houthis, who continue to scale up terror operations against civilians, stands as evidence that the cleric-led Tehran regime is complicit in the coupists' human rights violations and breaches of international agreements and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, namely 2216 and 2231.
Maliki, in his statement, confirmed that Saudi-led Arab Coalition forces will continue to ward off and respond to Houthi aggressions and terrorism. He also reiterated resolve to hold Houthi perpetrators directly involved in terror attacks accountable.
International Condemnation, Backlash
Each of the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, Djibouti, Pakistan, US, France, and the UK has condemned the Houthi attack on Abha Airport, with former British PM Theresa May calling it a “reckless” attack.
US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia John Abizaid strongly condemned what he called the “cowardly attack” that targeted Abha International Airport.
The Yemeni government, for its part, condemned continued Houthi terrorism and deliberate targeting of civilians and public installations as a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws, particularly international humanitarian conventions.
It also pointed out, in an official statement, that commitment to Iran’s regional agenda and continued belligerence on the Houthis’ part confirms a lack of serious intentions for establishing peace.
