Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the terrorist attack which targeted Iraq’s Erbil International Airport.

In a statement on Thursday, the Saudi foreign ministry said “the attack threatens the stability of Iraq and the region, and the safety of air navigation in the country. It also undermines the efforts of the international coalition to help Iraq combat terrorism.

The ministry reiterated Saudi Arabia’s full support for Iraq for all measures it takes to protect its security. It affirmed the Kingdom's position rejecting all forms of violence, terrorism, and extremism.

An explosive-laden drone targeted US forces stationed at Erbil airport in northern Iraq late on Wednesday.

The interior ministry of the autonomous Kurdistan regional government, based in Erbil, said in a statement the drone was carrying TNT. It said no one was hurt in the attack.

A barrage of rockets hit the same US-led military base in the Erbil International Airport vicinity in February, killing a non-American contractor working with the U.S. military.

Other Arab countries and organizations have also strongly denounced the attack.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates expressed its strong condemnation of these criminal acts.

The UAE ministry also expressed its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at destabilizing security and stability and inconsistent with humanitarian values and principles.

Bahrain's foreign ministry affirmed the country’s solidarity with Iraq in the measures taken by the government to preserve the security and stability of Iraq and protect its sovereignty and interests.

It urged the international community to condemn these terrorist acts which aim at increasing escalation and destabilizing the security and stability of Iraq.

Jordan also condemned the attack that targeted Erbil airport Wednesday evening, according to a statement from the foreign ministry carried by the Jordan News Agency (Petra).

The ministry also slammed the terror attack that targeted a market in Al-Habibiya district, east of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Thursday, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of people.

In a press statement, the Jordanian foreign ministry’s spokesperson, Dhaifallah Al-Fayez, affirmed Jordan's condemnation of these "cowardly" terrorist acts aimed at destabilizing security and stability and contradicting all humanitarian and religious values and principles.

Ambassador Al-Fayez also affirmed Jordan's position rejecting all forms of violence, extremism, and terrorism that target everyone without discrimination, adding that Jordan firmly stands by Iraq, against threats to its security and the safety of its people.

He affirmed that the two countries security is "one and indivisible," and that any threat to the security of Iraq is a threat to the security and stability of the entire region.

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Yusuf Al-Othaimeen said in a statement on Thursday that the terrorist act threatens the stability of Iraq and the region, and undermines international efforts to combat terrorism.

Dr. Al-Othaimeen reiterated the organization's firm stance that rejects all forms of violence, terrorism, and extremism, whatever the reasons and motives.