How world leaders reacted to the deadly Houthi attack on Riyadh airport

World leaders have condemned a Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed at least 12 people, including two Bangladeshis, and injured around 300 others, as US President Donald Trump considers whether Washington should join Saudi Arabia’s military campaign against the group.

The attack on Saturday was the third strike on Riyadh’s international airport this week and the deadliest assault on Saudi Arabia in more than a decade, according to Saudi authorities.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation said the victims included four Saudi nationals, two Bangladeshis and one citizen each from the United States, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt.

The attack comes as fighting intensifies in Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis are battling forces aligned with the internationally recognised government. Saudi Arabia has been conducting airstrikes against the Houthis in support of Yemeni government forces.

United States

US President Donald Trump described the attack as “terrible” and said he would speak with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, soon.

Asked whether the United States would join Saudi Arabia’s offensive against the Houthis, Trump said Washington was considering the possibility.

“We may. We’re gonna look at it,” he said, adding that a decision would be made quickly.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said an American citizen had been killed in the attack and called for an end to what he described as “these reprehensible attacks”.

“We stand with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people and extend our condolences to the victims and their families,” Rubio wrote on X.

Turkiye

Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

Calling for an immediate halt to attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, Ankara expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and urged all parties to resolve ongoing conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.

Qatar

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack, describing it as a serious violation of Saudi sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, civilian safety and air navigation.

Doha expressed full solidarity with Riyadh and said it supported all legitimate measures Saudi Arabia takes to protect its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

Pakistan

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack as “heinous”, warning that strikes targeting civilians and critical infrastructure threatened regional peace and stability.

“Attacks targeting civilians and vital infrastructure are utterly unacceptable and pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability,” Sharif wrote on X.

He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

India

India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the attack as “dastardly” and said attacks against civilians were completely unacceptable and must stop immediately.

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly the strike on Riyadh airport, describing them as “abhorrent”.

“There can be no justification for attacks on civilian infrastructure,” Carney wrote on X, adding that Canada condemned the violence in the strongest possible terms.

Malaysia

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also unequivocally condemned the attack, saying there could be no justification for targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure.

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