Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Sunday warned airlines, passengers and aviation workers against using Saudi Arabia’s airports and airspace following a deadly attack on Riyadh’s international airport that killed 12 people and injured more than 300. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree issued the warning through a post on X, saying Saudi airports and airspace could become targets for the group’s forces. However, he excluded airports serving Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam, from the threat. The warning came a day after Saturday’s attack on Riyadh’s airport, marking a significant escalation in the conflict involving the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. The Saudi-led coalition blamed the Iran-backed rebels for the strike and condemned it as a “full-fledged war crime”. According to Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority, the people killed in the attack included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. Authorities reported 309 injuries, with some victims suffering serious wounds. The latest incident followed an increase in Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. The group had also targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday, killing three people. Other important locations in Saudi Arabia, the world’s leading crude oil exporter, have also come under attack. Although the Houthis did not directly claim responsibility for Saturday’s airport attack, their subsequent warning has raised concerns about further strikes against Saudi aviation facilities and possible disruption to air travel.

France and UAE Condemn Attack on Riyadh Airport

Several countries condemned the attack and expressed support for Saudi Arabia as concerns grew over the possibility of a wider regional conflict. France on Sunday denounced the "heinous attack" carried out by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis against Riyadh's international airport a day earlier. Paris also expressed its "total solidarity" with Saudi Arabia. France has already been providing troops and military equipment to Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the French foreign ministry said the country "will continue to remain by its side in its defence of its territory and its infrastructure". It also called on the Houthis to stop their attacks. The United Arab Emirates also voiced support for Saudi Arabia following the deadly incident. The UAE said it stood in solidarity with the kingdom and backed measures intended to protect its security. In a statement, the UAE foreign ministry condemned the "flagrant violation" of Saudi Arabia's sovereignty. It "reaffirmed the UAE's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding the kingdom's security and stability".

Trump, UN and EU Leaders Condemn Houthi Strikes

US President Donald Trump also criticised the attack on Riyadh’s international airport, saying on Saturday that the incident, which killed at least a dozen people, was "not acceptable,". Trump told reporters that he "will be speaking" with Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, following the attack blamed on Yemen's Houthi rebels. "What happened in Saudi Arabia is not acceptable," Trump added. United Nations and European Union leaders also expressed shock over the attack on Sunday and warned that further violence could intensify the already deadly conflict. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply shocked" by Saturday's attack on Riyadh's airport, which reportedly killed 12 people and injured more than 300, according to aviation authorities. "Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are a violation of international law. These attacks must cease immediately," Guterres said in a statement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the attack as a "dangerous escalation" and urged the Iran-backed Houthis to stop targeting civilian facilities. "These attacks by Iran's proxies are pushing the region into a spiral of violence. They are destabilising crucial global transport and energy nodes with shockwaves sent through the world," von der Leyen said. "These murderous attacks on civilians must stop at once," she added, expressing the European Union's "solidarity with Saudi Arabia". German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also condemned the incident, saying he "firmly condemns" the attack, which he described as "a terrorist act against Saudi Arabia and civil aviation". "Our thoughts are with the victims and I send my sincere condolences to their loved ones," he wrote on X.

Riyadh Schools Shift to Remote Learning for a Week

The security situation following the deadly airport attack has also affected education in the Saudi capital. Schools in Riyadh will switch to remote learning for one week, according to an email sent to parents on Sunday. The message cited an order from the education ministry following the attacks on the capital's airport. The decision comes as Saudi authorities face growing security concerns amid the threat of further Houthi strikes against the kingdom's infrastructure.