Houthi Attacks Widely Condemned amid Solidarity with Saudi Arabia

  • 3/26/2018
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The international community on Monday widely condemned ballistic missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi insurgents on Saudi Arabia, expressing support for the Kingdom in its efforts to preserve its security and stability. The Saudi military said Sunday it intercepted seven ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis at the kingdom, three of them targeting Riyadh, two targeting Jazan and one apiece targeting Najran and Khamis Mushait. Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa sent a cable to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud denouncing the attacks. He “affirmed Bahrain’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its ongoing war against all forms of terrorism at all levels and its full support of the measures it takes to defend its territory, maintain its security and stability and protect its people,” Bahrain’s state news agency said. The Jordanian government spokesman, Dr. Mohammad Al Momani, also released a statement, saying Amman stands by Saudi Arabia in confronting repeated Houthi attacks. Jordan rejects such attacks that terrorize civilians and target Saudi Arabia’s stability, he said in a statement carried by the official Petra news agency. The spokesman reiterated Jordan’s support for Saudi efforts in preserving the kingdom’s national security. The UAE also strongly condemned the attacks. A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reiterated the "UAEs full stand with its sisterly country, in the face of this escalation of hostilities. It added that the attacks reflect the Iranian-backed Houthi militias intransigence and their insistence on destabilizing the regions security and stability." The statement, which was carried by the Emirates News Agency, affirmed the UAEs solidarity with the Kingdom, stressing that the security of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of national and regional security. On Sunday, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah strongly denounced the ballistic missile attacks. “This hostile act violates all international norms, values and principles,” the Emir said in a cable sent to King Salman. He reaffirmed Kuwaits solidarity with the Kingdom and support to all measures it takes to maintain its security. UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt also said in a statement that “Saudi Arabia has the right to defend itself against security threats including missiles launched from Yemen." They also expressed support to the Saudi-led Coalition’s efforts to restore legitimacy in Yemen. As for the United States, it too denounced the "dangerous" Houthi missile attacks in a statement issued by the State Department. The condemnations come as the spokesperson for the coalition forces fighting to restore legitimacy in Yemen Col. Turki Al Maliki is scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday to showcase evidence of the Iranian regimes involvement in providing and smuggling ballistic missiles and weapons to Houthis. The Yemeni government called the overnight attacks on Saudi Arabia "an open rejection of peace" by the Houthis and a blatant challenge to the international community, reiterating its accusation of Iranian involvement in backing and funding the militias.

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