Attacks by 'Iran’s proxies' pushing region into spiral of violence, says EU on Riyadh airport strike

European Union leaders have condemned the alleged Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300. EU warned that strikes by "Iran’s proxies" risk pushing the region into a wider cycle of violence. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the attack as a “dangerous escalation” and called on the Houthis to stop targeting civilian infrastructure. “These attacks by Iran’s proxies are pushing the region into a spiral of violence. They are destabilising crucial global transport and energy nodes with shockwaves sent through the world. These murderous attacks on civilians must stop at once,” the EU chief wrote on X on Sunday. She added that the EU stood in “solidarity with Saudi Arabia”. Read more: Attacks by 'Iran’s proxies' pushing region into spiral of violence, says EU on Riyadh airport strike An empty terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1 March 2026 (Fayez Nureldine/AFP)