Iraq Condemns Riyadh Airport Attack, Calls for De-Escalation
Iraq has condemned the deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, calling for an immediate halt to military escalation and renewed dialogue.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The Iraqi government on Sunday strongly condemned the deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, warning that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure pose a serious threat to regional security and stability.
In a statement, Baghdad expressed concern over the escalation and rejected military actions targeting civilian populations and facilities, saying such attacks deepen disputes and undermine prospects for peace across the region.
The Iraqi government called on all parties involved to immediately halt military operations in order to protect civilians and prevent further damage to civilian infrastructure.
It also reiterated its support for dialogue and mutual understanding as alternatives to military confrontation and violence.
According to the statement, Iraq believes political dialogue offers the best path for protecting the interests of the region's peoples and reducing the risks created by continued escalation.
Baghdad also stressed the importance of protecting freedom of maritime and air navigation, saying the security of regional transport routes is closely linked to economic interests and broader development.
The condemnation follows Saturday afternoon's attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said early Sunday that 12 people were killed and 309 others wounded in the strike.
Four of those killed were Saudi citizens.
Read More: Saudi Coalition Vows Response After Deadly Riyadh Airport Strike
The other eight victims were foreign residents, including two Bangladeshi nationals and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
Saudi authorities said the injured were receiving treatment at several hospitals and that some remained in serious condition.
The attack also caused significant material damage at the airport, with authorities continuing to assess the scale of the destruction.
The Iraqi government did not identify a particular party in its condemnation, instead framing its response around the need to stop military escalation and safeguard civilians.
Its statement also emphasized the wider regional consequences of attacks on transport infrastructure, particularly at a time when security tensions are increasingly affecting aviation and other cross-border economic activity.
The development comes just days before Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Zaidi is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia.
Zaidi is expected to travel to the kingdom on Wednesday, Oct. 14, where he is due to meet senior Saudi officials.
Read More: Ali Zaidi to Discuss Security, Regional Issues in Saudi Arabia
The planned talks are expected to cover bilateral issues as well as broader regional developments.
The timing of the visit places regional security high on the agenda, with Baghdad now publicly calling for restraint, dialogue and the protection of civilian infrastructure.
Iraq's position, as expressed in Sunday's statement, is that further military action risks deepening instability and harming the broader interests of people across the region.