RIYADH: The Arab coalition intercepted and destroyed a booby-trapped Houthi drone targeting the Saudi city of Khamis Mushayt on Saturday.
The same day, the militia also targeted the port of Mocha in Yemen with missiles and bomb-laden drones.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement condemning the attacks, saying “the continuation of these terrorist attacks by the Houthi groups reflect its blatant defiance of the international community and its disregard for all international laws and norms.”
Organization of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen expressed his strong condemnation of the attacks.
Al-Othaimeen stressed that the OIC opposed the terrorist practices of the Houthis and those financially supporting and arming them.
BACKGROUND
Saudi Arabia leads the Arab coalition which seeks to restore the legitimacy of Yemen to the internationally recognized government, after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. Despite several attempts to reach a ceasefire, the Houthis have refused to engage in talks.
Last Thursday, three Houthi explosive drones targeting Khamis Mushayt were intercepted and destroyed by the Arab coalition as the Iran-backed group ramped up its attacks on the Kingdom, targeting civilians and infrastructure.
Last week, eight people were injured by falling debris after the coalition destroyed a missile and drones targeting Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, called on the Security Council to “strongly condemn” the Houthis’ actions, “to shoulder its responsibility towards the Iranian-backed Houthi militias and their weapons supplied, and to deny the resources which fund their act of aggression that threatens international peace and security.”
In a letter to the UN, Al-Mouallimi said the group’s actions were a “flagrant violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.”
Saudi Arabia leads the Arab coalition which seeks to restore the legitimacy of Yemen to the internationally recognized government, after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The Kingdom has urged the group to engage faithfully in dialogue to bring the war to a peaceful resolution, but progress on that front has stalled and fighting has increase in some parts of the country.
Despite several attempts to reach a ceasefire, the Houthis have refused to engage in talks.
