UAE Leaders Extend Condolences to Saudi King Following Deadly Houthi Airport Attacks

UAE leaders have conveyed their sincere condolences to Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz following recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The strikes resulted in casualties, with several people confirmed dead and hundreds injured.

President Sheikh Mohamed expressed his profound sympathy for the victims and extended wishes for a swift recovery to those injured. Similarly, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, sent messages of condolence to King Salman.

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, also offered his condolences to the Saudi King. King Khalid International Airport has been non-operational since an attack on Saturday that claimed 13 lives and injured over 300 people, marking the deadliest incident in the kingdom in over a decade. A subsequent strike on Sunday resulted in one fatality and nearly a dozen injuries.

The Houthi rebels have targeted other airports across Saudi Arabia in the past week, with attacks extending beyond the capital to Abha, Jazan, and Najran. A projectile also caused damage to the airport serving Dammam. These attacks have led to significant disruptions in air travel throughout the region, impacting flights from the UAE. Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia have cancelled numerous flights to Saudi destinations, while Etihad Airways has suspended services between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh until October 18.