Iraq, EU leaders denounce Houthi attack on Riyadh airport

Several international leaders have issued condemnations on Sunday following the Houthi attack a day earlier on Saudi Arabia's Riyadh airport. Iraq called for a "comprehensive cessation of military operations", adding that the attack endangered "regional security and stability" and threatened civilians, according to a statement from the prime minister's spokesman Sabah al-Numan. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he "firmly condemns" what he described as "a terrorist act against Saudi Arabia and civil aviation", adding that "our thoughts are with the victims and I send my sincere condolences to their loved ones" in a post on X. UK Defence Minister Wes Streeting also condemned the attack as a "dangerous escalation". "This is completely contemptible action and it's one of the reasons why the UK is providing support to Saudi Arabia in the form of air defences, but also air-to-air refuelling," he told Sky News on Sunday. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called for the attacks on civilians to cease and said the European bloc stands in "solidarity with Saudi Arabia", accusing the Houthis who she referred to as "Iran's proxies" of "pushing the region into a spiral of violence" and destabilising global energy supplies.