ANKARA — Türkiye has issued a strong and unequivocal condemnation of recent Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting two major civilian airports in Saudi Arabia, warning that such assaults against civilian populations and critical infrastructure risk fueling a dangerous escalation of conflict across the Middle East.
In an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara denounced the coordinated strikes directed at Abha International Airport in the southern region of Saudi Arabia and King Khalid International Airport located in the nation’s capital, Riyadh. The ministry expressed deep concern over the targeting of aviation hubs that serve millions of civilian passengers and facilitate vital commercial and logistical connections, emphasizing that the safety and security of civilian infrastructure must remain uncompromised under all circumstances.
Extending its sympathies to the government and people of the Kingdom, the ministry offered formal condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attacks and wished a swift and full recovery to the individuals who sustained injuries. The escalation represents a troubling development in an ongoing conflict that has repeatedly spilled over international borders, threatening the safety of non-combatants and disrupting regional stability.
Ankara used the occasion to call for an immediate and unconditional cessation of all hostile operations targeting civilian areas and essential infrastructure. Foreign policy officials stressed that the continuation of such violence threatens to plunge an already fragile region into deeper instability, undermining international efforts to secure a lasting peace and secure vital trade and transit routes.
"These attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure and leading to a further escalation of tensions in the region must cease immediately," the Turkish Foreign Ministry stated, articulating the government’s firm stance against militant aggression directed at neighboring states.
Reaffirming Türkiye’s steadfast support for Saudi Arabia in the wake of the security breaches, the ministry underscored the fundamental importance of pursuing peaceful, diplomatic avenues to resolve long-standing regional disputes. Officials reiterated that military escalation and attacks on population centers offer no viable pathway to a sustainable resolution.
"We once again emphasize our full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reiterate our call for existing disputes to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy," the ministry added, signaling Ankara’s desire to foster cooperative diplomatic frameworks that can de-escalate hostilities and encourage regional dialogue among all stakeholders involved in the broader conflict.
The condemnation was echoed at high levels within the Turkish government. Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also issued a strong public statement denouncing the strikes, characterizing them as entirely unacceptable acts that pose a direct and severe threat to regional peace, security, and long-term stability.
Duran highlighted the human cost of the attacks, noting that the resulting civilian casualties and injuries underscore the reckless nature of the strikes and the disregard for international norms governing the protection of non-combatants.
"These attacks, which have resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, are unacceptable acts that threaten peace and stability in the region and escalate tensions," Duran said in his assessment of the security situation.
He emphasized that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye remains deeply committed to preventing the outbreak of new conflicts, mitigating existing hostilities, and promoting diplomatic and political solutions to all regional disputes. Ankara has consistently positioned itself as an advocate for regional dialogue, urging parties to prioritize diplomatic engagement over armed conflict to safeguard the welfare of populations across the Middle East.
Concluding his remarks, the communications director reiterated Ankara’s unwavering solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, offering renewed condolences to the families of the victims who suffered losses in the attacks and conveying wishes for a rapid recovery for those undergoing medical treatment for injuries sustained during the strikes.