Carney condemns Houthi attack on Riyadh airport as "abhorrent"; UN urges halt to strikes on civilians

What he said

In the statement, Carney said: "The Houthi attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and in particular the strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, are abhorrent. There can be no justification for attacks on civilian infrastructure. No political or military objective can justify the deliberate targeting of innocent people." He added that Canada condemns these reckless acts of violence in the strongest possible terms, extending deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wishing the injured a full recovery.

The attack

Saturday's missile hit the Terminal 3 and 4 complex. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed the 12 dead include four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshis and one national each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan; some of the injured are in critical condition. The strike was blamed on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen; the airport suspended all operations, with hundreds of flights cancelled or diverted.

International response

UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement Saturday night condemning attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure as violations of international law, saying "these attacks must stop immediately." The US, UK, Canada and others have issued travel advisories for Saudi Arabia; President Trump called the strike "not acceptable" and did not rule out US military action against the Houthis.