Saudi foreign ministry condemns missile attack on Baghdad Airport

A damaged aircraft on the tarmac of Baghdad airport, after a rocket attack on Friday, Jan. 28. (AP)
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Updated 29 January 2022
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Saudi foreign ministry condemns missile attack on Baghdad Airport

  • The rockets fired in the early hours of the morning landed on planes parked in a waiting area of Iraqi Airways

RIYADH: The Saudi foreign ministry on Saturday condemned an attack that targeted Baghdad International Airport on Friday.

Six rockets struck the airport’s facility, damaging two commercial planes but causing no casualties, Iraq’s military said.

The Saudi foreign ministry statement said the Kingdom rejected threats to the stability of Iraq and its air navigation, adding that it stood with the Iraqi government and the measures it is taking to protect its security.

The statement also affirmed Saudi Arabia's position in rejecting terrorism in all its forms and forms, regardless of its motives.

The rockets fired in the early hours of the morning landed on planes parked in a waiting area of Iraqi Airways, the country’s national carrier.

One of the rockets fired on Friday created a gaping hole in the cockpit area of one of the planes.

The attack marks an escalation of a series of strikes that have targeted the US and their allies as well as Iraqi government institutions since the start of the year, however most attacks targeting Baghdad airport did not cause heavy damage or affect civilian areas of the airport facility.

The recent increase followed the second anniversary of the US strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.


Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to open next week, Palestinian official says

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Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt to open next week, Palestinian official says

  • Palestinian technocrat leader backed by Washington to administer the enclave makes announcement
DAVOS: Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt will reopen next week after largely being shut during the Israel-Hamas war, the Palestinian technocrat leader backed by Washington to administer the enclave announced on Thursday.
Ali Shaath made the announcement by video link during an event in Davos hosted ‌by President ‌Donald Trump, who ‌convened ⁠a group of ‌leaders to formally launch a “Board of Peace” initially focused on cementing Gaza’s ceasefire.
A key unfulfilled element of the ceasefire, brokered by Trump in October, has been the reopening of Gaza’s main ⁠gateway to the world to allow the entry ‌and exit of Palestinians.
“I ‍am pleased ‍to announce the Rafah crossing will ‍open next week in both directions. For Palestinians in Gaza, Rafah is more than a gate. It is a lifeline and symbol of opportunity,” Shaath said.
“Opening Rafah signals that Gaza is no ⁠longer closed to the future and to the war,” Shaath said.
There was no immediate comment from Israel, which has controlled the Rafah crossing since 2024.
The ceasefire deal left Israel in control of more than half of Gaza, including the area that abuts the border crossing. Hamas controls the remainder ‌of the enclave.