Faisal bin Farhan: The Houthis have opened a door they cannot bear
- The door of diplomacy remains open for engaging with the Houthis
- The Coalition: “Houthi militia” attacks are a serious escalation that will be met with firmness
- Arab and Gulf support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity
- Lavrov warns of the repercussions of attacks on civilians and the global economy
Saudi Arabia affirmed that it “will not hesitate to defend itself against any aggression and will use all available means to protect its interests,” sending a stern message to the Houthi militias that they “have opened a door they cannot bear.” At the same time, it kept the door open for diplomatic solutions to deal with the rebel group, which targeted civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, resulting in the injury of 73 civilians, including women and children.
While statements of condemnation from Arab and Gulf countries emphasized the need for the international community to act to halt the escalation, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure the security of maritime navigation, energy supplies, and global trade, and affirmed their full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for the measures it is taking to protect its security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia “will have a backfire effect and harm the global economy,” reiterating Moscow’s interest in contributing to de-escalation efforts in the region.
In Moscow, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, said the Kingdom “will not hesitate to support what achieves the interests of Yemen and the region,” and that it would use all available means to protect its interests and defend itself against aggression.
He affirmed that “the Houthis have opened a door they cannot bear,” accusing the terrorist militias of attempting to export their internal problems in Yemen to Saudi Arabia.
He added that “the Houthis resort to violence whenever they find themselves in a difficult position, and they insist on imposing further suffering on the Yemeni people, rather than responsibly engaging in a political process that ends the crisis.”
Despite the firm tone regarding the escalation, Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed that the door of diplomacy remains open for dealing with the Houthis, noting that the legitimate Yemeni government had given them an opportunity to negotiate responsibly, but the group “prefers its narrow personal interests over the interests of Yemen and its people.”
For his part, Lavrov described the Houthi attacks as “unacceptable,” warning that they “will have a backfire effect,” and affirming Russia’s full support for Saudi efforts to continue implementing the roadmap for a peaceful settlement in Yemen.
The Russian minister stressed the rejection of attempts to resolve issues through military means, affirming “the necessity of ensuring freedom and security of navigation in international waters, including those adjacent to the Yemeni coast,” and calling for an accelerated launch of direct dialogue among influential Yemeni parties based on the roadmap reached through a Saudi initiative.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry, in a statement, confirmed that the attacks coincided with the Houthis’ continued targeting of commercial ships in the Red Sea and threatening the freedom of international maritime navigation.
For his part, the “Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen” announced that “the escalation by the terrorist Houthi militia and its attempts to target the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its national capabilities, citizens, and residents on its territory constitute a serious escalation that confirms the hostile and irresponsible approach of this terrorist militia,”
The spokesperson for the Coalition, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, clarified that the “reckless attacks carried out by the Houthi terrorist militia, the latest of which targeted civilian and economic landmarks in the cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, resulting in the injury of 73 civilians, including women and children,” constitute a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a direct threat to the security and safety of its citizens and residents.
He emphasized that “these heinous and unjustified attacks, perpetrated by the Houthi terrorist militia, deliberately aim to damage the Kingdom’s national assets, infrastructure, and civilian landmarks, while underscoring its extremist criminal behavior that rejects efforts to achieve peace and stability in Yemen and its Arab and Islamic neighborhood.”
He stressed that “the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will take all necessary operational measures to deter this terrorist militia and confront its hostile approach with firmness, in defense of the Kingdom’s sovereignty, safeguarding its national assets, and ensuring the safety of its citizens and residents. It will also implement all necessary precautions and measures to respond to sources of threat and neutralize their danger.”
A senior source at the Saudi Ministry of Energy reported that several facilities and installations in the energy sector in the southern region of the Kingdom had been targeted.
The source clarified that the attacks caused fires at several sites, leading to a temporary halt of some operational activities, while specialized field teams have begun containment efforts, secured the sites, and assessed the damage.
