Houthi attack condemned

Dubai : World leaders yesterday condemned the Houthi missile attack on Saudi Arabia that targeted various civilian areas. Seven ballistic missiles were fired by Houthi militia from Yemen on Sunday night, killing an expatriate and wounding two others. 

Three of the missiles were fired toward Riyadh, two toward Jazan, and one each toward Khamis Mushayt and Najran which Saudi air defences intercepted.

The US State Department condemned the missile attacks by Houthis.  “We support our Saudi partners in defending their borders,” the US State Department said, confirming support to Saudi Arabia in defending the Kingdom’s borders. 

The UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, Pakistan and the Arab League condemned the attack.

Algeria strongly condemned attack and affirmed its solidarity and full support to King Salman, the Saudi government and its people in the face of any attempt to target its security and stability.

Algeria called for the immediate cessation of hostilities that will deepen the crisis and increase the escalating tension in the region.

The internationally recognised government of Yemen, who has been fighting the militias since 2015, also condemned the Houthi attack.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a world body of Muslim countries consisting of 57 member states, condemned the Houthi missile attack.

OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen said that targeting Saudi cities with ballistic missiles is a hostile, criminal attitude and a conspiratorial attempt to destabilize the country and the region. He underlined that the OIC remains fully committed to supporting Saudi measures to preserve the country’s security and stability, solidarizing with the Saudi leadership, government and people in their combat against obscurantist and terrorist forces.

Condemning the missile attacks, the Palestinian leadership headed by President Mahmoud Abbas assured that they stand by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reiterating full support for all Saudi measures aimed at defending their lands, security, stability, and the people of Saudi Arabia.

Witnesses reported loud explosions and bright flashes in the sky in Riyadh, apparently caused by missiles being shot down.

Since November, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia have fired multiple missiles into Saudi Arabia, all of which Saudi forces had successfully intercepted without causing any damages to lives or properties.

‘Stop arming Houthis’

Britain on Sunday called on Iran to “stop sending weapons” to the Houthi militias and use its influence instead to end the conflict, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported on Sunday.

In a joint statement on the occasion of the three-year anniversary of the start of the Saudi-led Arab military intervention against the Houthi militias in Yemen, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said that “if Iran is sincere in its commitment to support a political solution in Yemen, it must stop sending weapons that prolong the conflict, fuel regional tensions and pose a threat to international peace and security.”

“We are wondering why Iran is spending a lot of money in a country with which it has no real historical ties or interests, rather than using its influence to end the conflict for the benefit of the Yemeni people,” the ministers said in their statement.

 “We support the efforts of the Saudi-led coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen, as approved by the UN Security Council,” the British ministers said in a statement. A report by UN experts concluded that Tehran was involved in arming the Houthis. 

HM King deplores attack

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday condemned the Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. In a cable sent to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Majesty affirmed Bahrain’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its ongoing war against all forms of terrorism fully supporting the measures it takes to defend its territory, maintain security and stability and protect its people. HM also held a telephone conversation with the Saudi monarch.

His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister, sent a cable to the Saudi King, denouncing the Houthi attack. HRH the Premier stressed that such hostile acts that targeted Saudi Arabia’s security and safety of its brotherly people ran counter to all religious, humanitarian and international values. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister sent a cable to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, condemning the attacks. His Royal Highness also sent a similar cable to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.