Saudi Arabia Affirms Its Inherent Right to Defend Its Sovereignty Against the Terrorist Houthi Militia

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom’s strong condemnation and outrage over the continued targeting by the Houthi terrorist militia of civilians and civilian and economic infrastructure in the Kingdom, as well as its blatant and repeated attacks against the holiest sites in Islam (Mecca and Medina), as well as against the capital, Riyadh, and other Saudi cities (Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, Najran, Taif, and Yanbu). It also condemned the militia’s targeting of Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) relayed a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which affirmed that “since the Houthi terrorist militia’s coup against the legitimate Yemeni government in 2014, the Kingdom has made persistent and continuous efforts to support initiatives aimed at achieving a comprehensive and sustainable political solution in Yemen. However, the Houthi terrorist militia, continuing its rejection of peace, has instead chosen a path of sustained military escalation, plunging Yemen and the fraternal Yemeni people into further humanitarian and economic suffering in service of and execution of external agendas.”

The statement added that “the Kingdom reaffirms its inherent right to defend its territory, resources, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents, and to take all necessary measures to protect its security in accordance with international law. It also reiterates its full political and military support for the Presidential Leadership Council, the Yemeni government, and the fraternal Yemeni people in ending the coup and restoring the state and its institutions from the Houthi terrorist militia.”