US Condemns Continued Houthi Attacks Against Saudi Arabia

Gulf

December 29th, 6:38am

Asharq Al-Awsat

Asharq Al-Awsat file photo of a Houthi projectile that has landed in Najran

The United States on Tuesday condemned the continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, stressing that the Iran-backed group poses a threat to Washington’s partners. “There have been more than 375 cross-border attacks since the beginning of the year. They endanger not only our Saudi partners but the 70,000 US citizens residing there,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a press briefing. He said that Saudi Arabia has been able to knock down some 90 percent of those attacks, and “our goal is to see to it that that number rises to 100 percent.” Price said Washington will continue to work with its Saudi partners to stand up against these “really deplorable Houthi attacks,” and will continue to hold the Houthis accountable for their reprehensible actions. The spokesperson pointed out that his country has taken an approach that is targeting Houthi leaders who are responsible not only for these attacks but also the other malign activities for which the Iranian-backed group is responsible. “We continue to believe that taking this targeted approach, holding accountable individuals for the actions they are taking, is a much more effective approach than potentially jeopardizing the welfare and well-being of millions of Yemeni citizens who reside in what many assessments call the home of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe,” Price said. He added that Washington aims to increase humanitarian access and for supplies to reach the long-suffering people of Yemen. He stressed that the US has a relationship with Saudi Arabia that allowed the two countries to work together, to partner together, to counter the Houthi threat. The Saudi-led Arab coalition revealed on Sunday evidence that proves the involvement of Lebanon’s Hezbollah with the Houthi militias in Yemen. In a press conference, Coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki held Hezbollah responsible for targeting civilians in Saudi Arabia and Yemen and of using Sanaa International Airport to attack the Kingdom.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3384216/us-condemns-continued-houthi-attacks-against-saudi-arabia