Saudi Arabia: Iran Encourages Houthis to Escalate

Riyadh (Agencies): A senior official in the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Iran of encouraging the Houthi terrorist militias to carry out their recent escalation against the kingdom, stressing that the Islamic Republic continues to arm, train, and support Yemeni fighters. The French Press Agency (AFP) reported yesterday that Dr. Raed Qarmali, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy at the Saudi Foreign Ministry, said during a video briefing with journalists, “We believe that the escalation carried out by the Houthis at this final stage of the conflict is being encouraged by Iran,” adding that Iran continues to arm, train, and support the Houthi militia, in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Qarmali said that at the outset of this escalation, they requested a meeting in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, but the Houthis refused. That was the last contact made a few weeks ago, while noting that direct communication channels with the Houthis remain open.

For his part, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, a spokesperson for the Yemeni coalition supporting legitimacy, revealed that Houthi militias carried out cowardly terrorist acts against civilian facilities and attempted to target dozens of airports, oil facilities, and ports in the kingdom. He warned that Houthi attacks pose a threat to regional and international security and stability. He confirmed that 1,104 missiles and 1,135 drones had been launched at the kingdom since the start of operations, including approximately 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport since October 1. He noted that these attacks on Saudi airports resulted in 19 deaths and 364 injuries.

Al-Maliki stressed that targeting civilian airports does not affect the security of the kingdom in particular, but rather the security of air navigation. He added that the Houthi militia has been working, with the assistance of regional parties, to acquire advanced technologies to become the first terrorist group to possess fast drones and missiles. He pointed out that attempts to target airports endanger the lives of thousands of civilian travelers, and noted that Houthi attempts to target the Two Holy Mosques are abominable and brutal, explaining that Houthi attacks are an extension of a hostile approach that targeted the holiest places on Earth.

Al-Maliki said, “The Saudi Armed Forces have acquired highly ready and advanced combat systems, and over the past days we destroyed 127 storage sites in mountainous areas and numerous launch platforms. We also carried out a distinctive operation in response to Houthi attacks on King Khalid International Airport and other airports.”