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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was appalled by repeated Houthi attacks on airports in Saudi Arabia, including a strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh that killed and injured a number of Saudi and foreign nationals. In a written statement, Turk stressed that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

Turk called for investigations into these strikes and other violations. He noted that the conflict's toll on civilians in Yemen and Saudi Arabia should remind all parties that continued fighting brings only deeper suffering. All sides, he said, must respect the principles of distinction and proportionality and exercise constant care to protect civilians, and he urged them to de-escalate and avert a larger catastrophe.

The Iran-backed Houthis have been launching ballistic missiles and drones at Riyadh and other parts of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation reported that 10 attacks on five airports in one week killed 19 people. The Houthis have held Sanaa and other areas of Yemen since September 2014, while a Saudi-led coalition has supported the Yemeni government against them since March 2015.

Key Takeaways

• Volker Turk said he was appalled by Houthi attacks targeting Saudi airports, including Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport.
• He called for investigations into the strikes and urged all parties to protect civilians and de-escalate.
• Saudi authorities said 10 attacks on five airports in one week killed 19 people.