AMBENO (TOP) – The President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, strongly condemns repeated attacks by Houthi forces on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The attacks include deadly missile strikes on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 10 and 11 October 2026.
In a statement issued on 12 October, Timor-Leste said the attacks are a “flagrant violation” of international law and of the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Civilians targeted
The government expressed particular concern over attacks deliberately aimed at civilian infrastructure. According to the statement, the attacks caused innocent people to lose their lives and left hundreds injured. Dili considers the attacks “absolutely condemnable.” The statement also warns that the attacks endanger civilian populations and threaten international civil aviation, and that they violate the obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Message from President Ramos-Horta
President of the Republic and Nobel laureate José Ramos-Horta declared that the attacks are “not merely an attack on a sovereign nation” but also a direct challenge to the international order established by the UN Charter and a grave threat to peace and stability in the Gulf region and the entire Middle East.
“No political objective can justify attacks that endanger human life and civilian infrastructure,” Ramos-Horta said.
He called on the Houthi forces to stop the illicit attacks immediately and to respect their obligations under international law.
Context: what happened in Riyadh
The attacks of 10 and 11 October are not an isolated incident. King Khalid Airport was hit repeatedly this week: on the 8th, two attacks struck airport facilities and a Saudia aircraft; on the 10th, a ballistic missile hit the complex containing terminals 3 and 4; on the 11th, terminal 4 was struck again, starting a fire in a passenger hall. On the 12th, Saudi Arabia intercepted three missiles, and the airport will remain closed until at least 17 October.
Casualty figures from Saudi Arabia
Casualty figures differ across sources, because there have been many attacks and the numbers are updated frequently:
- The attack on the 10th (Saturday) left 13 people dead and more than 200 injured. It was the deadliest attack on Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) initially reported 12 dead and 309 injured.
- The attack on the 11th (Sunday) killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 people.
- Earlier, attacks on the 6th and 7th on Abha and King Khalid airports killed three people and injured 36. The attack on the 8th also killed three people, including Saudia captain Hamoud Ali Alkalthami.
Reactions from other countries and organizations
The UN, the United Kingdom and Arab states condemned the attacks. Kuwait called for an immediate halt, and Bahrain warned that targeting airports threatens regional security and civil aviation. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned the “reprehensible attacks.” At the UN, Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s internationally recognized government asked the Security Council to take action.
The Houthi position
The Houthis say the attacks are retaliation for Saudi strikes on Sanaa and Hodeidah airports in Yemen, under an “airport-for-airport” logic. This allegation comes from the Houthis and has not been independently confirmed.
Timor-Leste and Saudi Arabia
Timor-Leste and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations on 29 January 2015. In September 2023, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb visited Dili and met Ramos-Horta. They discussed cooperation and preparations for Riyadh’s hosting of Expo 2030. Earlier, in January 2023, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met Ramos-Horta in Davos.
In the Middle East, Ramos-Horta announced in 2023 that Timor-Leste would open an embassy in the United Arab Emirates, to demonstrate its commitment to relations with all countries, including in the Middle East.
