Houthi Escalation, Attack against Saudi Universities Draw Condemnation

Gulf

March 26th, 6:10am

Asharq Al-Awsat

The Arab coalition shot down several Houthi drones fired at the Kingdom.

Several countries and organizations condemned on Thursday the escalation by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen against Saudi Arabia. Earlier in the day, the Saudi-led Arab coalition and air defenses intercepted and destroyed eight armed drones fired by the militias towards universities in Jizan and Najran. Bahrain slammed the Houthis for their continued attacks against the Kingdom, saying they are a flagrant violation of international laws. The Foreign Ministry expressed Manama’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and all the measures it takes to protect its security, stability and territories. It urged the international community to stand against these heinous attacks that go against Saudi Arabia’s sincere efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis and reach a comprehensive political solution in line with the initiative it announced on Monday. The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned Houthi attack. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the ongoing terrorist attacks by the militias reflect their blatant disregard for the international community and all international laws and norms. The Ministry urged the international community to take an immediate and decisive stance to stop these recurrent acts, which target critical infrastructure and threaten the security and stability of the Kingdom, as well as global energy supplies. It also stressed that the continued threat of these attacks in recent days is a grave escalation that represents new evidence of this militias’ attempts to undermine security and stability in the region. It renewed the UAE's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia against these terrorist acts and its unwavering commitment to opposing any threat to its security and stability, confirming its support for any measures the Kingdom may take to preserve the safety of its citizens and residents. "The security of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is indivisible, and any threat facing the Kingdom is considered a threat to the UAE's security and stability," the Ministry stressed. Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, strongly condemned the hostile escalation of the terrorist Houthis against the Kingdom. Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Nayef al-Hajraf condemned the Houthi attack. He remarked that the Houthis persist in these attacks in spite of the Kingdom’s announcement of a new peace initiative for Yemen. The escalation reflects the flagrant challenge of the Houthi terrorist militias to the international community and their disregard for all international laws and norms, he added. This demands that the international community take an immediate and decisive stance to stop these continued terrorist acts. He underscored the solidarity the GCC with Saudi Arabia in whatever measures it takes to defend its territories and preserve the safety of its citizens and residents.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2882471/houthi-escalation-attack-against-saudi-universities-draw-condemnation