A diplomatic response on October 11
Christophe Farnaud told Arab News that the EU opposed attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and stood in solidarity with Saudi Arabia. His comments followed the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
The Saudi led coalition blamed the Houthi organization for that attack. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries, including some people in critical condition, according to Arab News.
The authority said four of those killed were Saudis and eight were foreign nationals. These are the reported Saudi official figures for the October 10 incident; they should not be combined with separate attacks or treated as an independently established regional total.
Civilian transport is the focus
Farnaud offered condolences to the bereaved families and expressed support for the injured. He described indiscriminate attacks on civilian facilities as unjustifiable and warned of consequences for regional stability and wider security.
The airport temporarily suspended operations while damage and safety assessments were carried out, Arab News reported. That account does not establish a continuing closure or a verified reopening time for all airport services.
The diplomatic development on October 11 is the ambassador’s public response. It is distinct from the date of the lethal attack and from any subsequent operational decisions by Saudi authorities.
A shared threat relevant to Israel
Houthi attacks are also a direct Israeli security concern. In a statement dated January 9, 2025, the IDF described missiles launched from Yemen toward Israel and the interception of most missiles that approached Israeli territory.
That historical account establishes the Israeli dimension without suggesting that an additional attack on Israel occurred on October 11. The present report concerns European diplomacy and the protection of civilian transport routes against the same regional terrorist organization.
The EU Council’s explanation of its naval operation similarly identifies Houthi attacks on commercial shipping as the reason for a protective presence. The Council describes the mission’s tasks as accompanying vessels, maintaining maritime situational awareness and protecting shipping against attacks at sea.
Reinforcement remains work in progress
Farnaud said the EU was working to strengthen Operation Aspides. Launched on February 19, 2024, the operation was established to protect freedom of navigation and commercial vessels under a defensive mandate, according to the EU Council.
The ambassador’s description concerns efforts to reinforce an existing mission. It is not confirmation that new ships have arrived, that a new deployment has been completed or that protection against every threat is assured.
He also described European involvement in meetings connected with a Saudi led maritime defense initiative and work toward an observer role. Further participation arrangements and military decisions would require their own confirmation. The next developments to watch are those formal decisions, alongside verified Saudi updates on airport operations and the condition of the injured.
