SAUDI ARABIA

‘Reckless’, ‘cowardly’ Houthi attack on Abha airport condemned

June 24, 2019
Passengers waiting at the check-in counter at Abha airport which is operating normally Monday, a day after a Houthi attack in which a Syrian national was killed and 21 others were injured. — Okaz photo
Passengers waiting at the check-in counter at Abha airport which is operating normally Monday, a day after a Houthi attack in which a Syrian national was killed and 21 others were injured. — Okaz photo

Saudi Gazette report

Jeddah —
The cowardly Houthi attack on Abha International Airport on Sunday, which resulted in the death of a Syrian national and injuries to 21 others, has been strongly condemned.

Among the injured there are 13 Saudis, four Indians and two each from Egypt and Bangladesh.

Three women — two Egyptians and one Saudi — and two children from India are among the injured.

Former British PM Theresa May called it a “reckless” attack.

US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia John Abizaid strongly condemned what he called the "cowardly attack" that targeted Abha International Airport.

On the official Twitter page of the US Mission to Saudi Arabia, Abizaid sent condolences to “the families and friends of those injured or killed in this outrageous attack on civilians.”

President of Arab Parliament Dr. Mishaal Al-Salami said the Houthi militias’ deliberate and repeated targeting of civilians and vital civilian institutions in the Kingdom with ballistic missiles and drones confirms that it is a terrorist group that commits war crimes and crimes against humanity and flagrantly violates the international law and international humanitarian law which requires that it shall be classified as a terrorist group, as demanded by the Arab Parliament in its decision on June 19.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC) Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani called on the international community to condemn the continuation of the Houthi attacks on populated areas and civilian installations in the Kingdom.

The Organization of Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross said the attack on the airport, which is packed with thousands of passengers, violates international laws and threatens international peace and security.

Yemen condemned in the strongest terms the targeting by the Houthi militias of Abha International Airport, which resulted in the death of an expatriate and injury of seven civilians.

In a statement issued today, the Yemeni Foreign Ministry said that the continuation of these terrorist operations - which deliberately target civilians and civilian facilities - constitutes a flagrant violation of all international norms and laws, particularly international humanitarian law.

The statement, broadcast by the official Yemeni news agency, said that this terrorist act reflects the influence of Iranian support for the Houthi militias and proves the lack of seriousness of the Houthis in pursuing peace.

The Foreign Ministry called on the international community and the Security Council to condemn the attack and assume their responsibility by forcing the Houthis to implement international resolutions to ensure the end of the coup and restore the Yemen state according to agreed terms of reference and maintain stability, security and peace in the region.

Many countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Afghanistan, Kuwait, UAE, Djibouti, Bahrain and Yemen strongly condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the Kingdom.

Col. Turki Al-Malki, spokesman of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen, said in a statement early Monday morning that three of the injured people left the hospital after receiving treatment while 18 others are still under treatment.

"The injuries of 13 people were light, three medium and two critical," he added.

The spokesman said the glass of a MacDonald restaurant was shattered and 18 cars were damages.

Malki said the terrorist attack on the airport was carried out by an Iranian-made drone model “Ababil/Qasef”.


June 24, 2019
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