JEDDAH: Arab countries have denounced Houthi attempts to attack Saudi Arabia’s southern region using a ballistic missile and three explosive-laden drones.
The Arab coalition said that the Iran-backed militia fired a ballistic missile late Saturday toward Jazan that was intercepted and destroyed.
The missile attack comes just hours after the coalition forces destroyed three armed drones targeting the southern region of Saudi Arabia, including one drone that was headed to Khamis Mushait.
The coalition said that the Houthis are continuing to target civilians and civilian objects.
The Arab Interior Ministers Council strongly condemned the repeated terrorist operations carried out by the Houthi militia.
In a statement, the council’s General Secretariat said the Iran-backed group aims to destabilize security and stability in the Arab region, through financial and weaponry support from external parties, by deliberately pursuing aggressive practices that violate the rules of international humanitarian law and ignoring all efforts to end the conflict in Yemen.
The council called on the international community to hold the perpetrators of these terrorist acts accountable, reiterating its absolute support for all measures taken by the Kingdom to protect its security, stability and sovereignty of its lands, and efforts of coalition forces in confronting the Houthis’ threats and hostilities.
The Arab Parliament reaffirmed its full solidarity with the Kingdom against anything that targets its security and stability.
The legislative body of the Arab League described the Houthi militia as a “terrorist organization operated from Tehran to implement a policy of spreading chaos and terror in the region and the world.”
The Arab Parliament urged the international community to assume its responsibilities in confronting such Houthi criminal attacks that threaten regional and international peace and security, and to take measures that would deter these terrorist groups and those who finance and support them, led by Iran.
It stressed the need for serious action in this regard, and praised the efficiency and vigilance of the air defense forces of the Arab coalition, which succeeded in intercepting and destroying the drones.
Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), expressed his strong condemnation of the attempt to target innocent civilians in Saudi Arabia.
He reiterated the organization’s condemnation of the Houthi terrorist militia’s attempts by launching of booby-trapped drones toward innocent civilians in the Kingdom, terming them “war crimes.”
He praised the Saudi Air Defense Forces, which intercepted and destroyed the drones.
Al-Othaimeen also stressed the OIC’s firm solidarity with the Kingdom in all the measures it takes to protect its security and stability as well as the safety of its citizens and residents in its territories.
Kuwait has expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the continuing terrorist Houthi militia threat to the security of Saudi Arabia and the targeting of civilians and civilian areas and the stability of the region.
The Foreign Ministry also stressed Kuwait’s full solidarity and support for the Kingdom in all measures it takes to preserve its security, stability and sovereignty.
Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the failed Houthi attack, saying that “this terrorist act constitutes a blatant attack on the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia, and a serious threat to the security and safety of its citizens and residents.”
It also stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities in condemning these heinous Houthi attacks, threatening regional security and stability.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed its firm position in condemning these repeated and cowardly terrorist acts targeting civilians and vital facilities in the Kingdom with the aim of undermining security, stability and peace.
Arab states condemn ‘blatant’ Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
https://arab.news/5zpdp
Arab states condemn ‘blatant’ Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
- Houthis fired a ballistic missile and explosive-laden three drones at the Kingdom’s southern region
- Arab Interior Ministers Council calls on international community to hold the perpetrators accountable
Saudia Group graduates 1,200 aviation trainees at landmark ceremony
- ‘This opportunity felt like a dream,’ culinary arts student says
- ‘Human capital remains our most important investment,’ transport minister says
JEDDAH: Saudia Group held its first unified graduation ceremony for trainees of its aviation programs on Saturday, marking one of the largest such events ever held in the Kingdom’s aviation sector.
The ceremony, in Jeddah, brought together more than 1,200 students who had completed specialized training programs and will now join the company’s workforce.
Mohammed Midher, a 32-year-old captain and graduate of the six-month aerospace engineering program, told Arab News: “Every difficulty becomes easy with hard work and dedication.
“I am very happy to graduate and grateful for this valuable opportunity provided by the Saudia Group.
“It was a chance to prove our skills and capabilities and we will be starting our jobs soon. I am very excited to lead the aircraft to destinations around the world.”
Nesreen Jomaa, a graduate of the Culinary Arts Academy’s one-year ZDAK program, said the training enhanced her professional growth.
“I already had experience in culinary arts and had worked in several hotels in Jeddah, so I came in with strong knowledge.
“This opportunity felt like a dream because it guarantees employment upon completion. It added so much to my professional growth and I also gained many wonderful friends within this field.”
Ashwaq Khaja, who completed the same program, said: “I am proud to be Saudi and proud of everything the group has provided for us.
“I have a bachelor’s degree in science management and I am a visual artist. Today, I aspire to combine visual art with culinary art. I am truly grateful for this opportunity.”
All of the training programs were delivered by Saudia Group and its subsidiaries, Saudia, Saudia Academy, Saudia Technic, Saudi Ground Services, SAL Saudi Logistics Services, flyadeal and Catrion.
The graduates will now take up operational roles in flight operations, ground services, engineering, logistics and customer-facing functions.
The students’ families were present at the graduation event and there was also a performance by a Saudi choral group.
The ceremony also celebrated the first Saudi female graduates in airport aircraft maintenance, with 25 women completing the training program.
Women were also represented in inflight services and onboard chef programs, reflecting their broader inclusion across all disciplines.
“The percentage of women in aviation is increasing year after year,” said Khaled Tash, chief marketing officer of Saudia Group.
“There is no program today from which women are excluded. Every program is open and women are fully enabled and encouraged to join.
“Over the years, we have celebrated ordering new aircraft, building new airports, expanding logistics and investing in infrastructure. But there is nothing we can be more proud of than ensuring we have the right people to lead these growth projects.”
The event was held under the patronage of Saleh Al-Jasser, minister of transport and logistics services, and attended by Ibrahim Al-Omar, director general of Saudia Group, alongside senior officials and aviation sector representatives.
“Developing national talent is fundamental to achieving the ambitions of the National Aviation Strategy,” Al-Jasser said.
“Graduating more than 1,000 aviation professionals in a single year reflects the scale and pace of transformation underway across the Kingdom’s transport and logistics sector.
“Human capital remains our most important investment as we build a globally competitive aviation ecosystem.”
Al-Omar highlighted the company’s progress in localizing roles.
“Saudia Group has made significant progress in localizing critical aviation roles, surpassing targeted performance indicators by margins ranging from 43 percent to 230 percent,” he said.
“We have also embedded knowledge transfer requirements into our agreements with global manufacturers to ensure the development of Saudi capabilities within the Kingdom.
“The next phase of our transformation, particularly as we elevate the guest experience and strengthen global competitiveness, depends on continued investment in specialized national talent.”
The event highlighted the diversity of career paths within the aviation sector, bringing together graduates from operations, maintenance, engineering, cabin services and ground services within an integrated training ecosystem addressing the sector’s full range of needs.
The group has also increased local content levels across its activities from 19 percent in 2019 to 29 percent in 2023, reinforcing its contribution to domestic economic development.
