ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Sunday condemned the deadly Houthi attack on the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
In a press statement issued Sunday, the AU "strongly condemned" the airport attack attributed to Yemen's Houthi group, which claimed 12 lives and injured more than 300 people.
The 55-member continental organization underscored that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international law and must never be targeted.
It expressed solidarity with the government and people of Saudi Arabia, extending its condolences to the bereaved families and countries concerned, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The AU also called for an "immediate cessation of attacks and urgent de-escalation to prevent further escalation and safeguard regional peace and security."
According to the Saudi aviation authority, the fatalities in the airport attack included four Saudi citizens and eight foreign residents -- two Bangladeshis and one each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan.
The attack came as the Houthi group and Saudi Arabia continued exchanging strikes on major airports and other facilities. ■
