A wave of condemnation has swept across Arab and Islamic nations following Houthi militia attacks on civilian and economic facilities in southern Saudi Arabia, which resulted in injuries to 73 civilians, including women and children. These assaults coincide with ongoing threats to commercial shipping and maritime security in the Red Sea.
The United Arab Emirates vehemently denounced the Houthi attacks on Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Najran, emphasizing that targeting civilian and economic assets constitutes a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to its security and stability. The UAE declared its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures taken to protect the Kingdom's security and resources.
The Yemeni government condemned the Houthi aggressions on Saudi civilian and economic installations and energy facilities, viewing them as an extension of the military escalation within Yemen. It asserted that the Houthi group utilizes Yemeni capabilities and territories to serve the Iranian regime's agenda and threaten the security of neighboring countries and international maritime routes. The Yemeni government held the Houthis and the Iranian regime responsible for this continued path, calling on the international community and the UN Security Council to move beyond political condemnation to practical measures aimed at halting the flow of Iranian weapons, funding, and military expertise to the group, and to enforce Security Council resolutions, notably resolutions 2216 and 2722.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi condemned the Houthi attacks, describing the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in southern Saudi Arabia as an "extremist criminal approach" that threatens regional and international peace and security. He urged the international community to adopt a firm and deterrent stance and to hold the perpetrators and their supporters accountable.
Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan issued similar statements condemning the targeting of Saudi cities and installations and warning of the repercussions of escalation on regional security. They also underscored the seriousness of continued Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and their threat to freedom of navigation, international trade, and energy supplies. These nations affirmed their solidarity with Saudi Arabia and their support for its actions to protect its sovereignty, territory, citizens, and residents, stressing that the Kingdom's security is an integral part of the Gulf, Arab, and regional security framework.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Muslim World League, and the Arab Parliament also joined the chorus of condemnations, deeming the Houthi attacks a violation of international law and a threat to regional security. They called for a more resolute international stance against the group and for accountability for the perpetrators and their backers. In Beirut, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressing Lebanon's solidarity with the Kingdom and affirming that the security of Saudi Arabia and the Arab region is indivisible, and that any attack on the sovereignty of Arab nations warrants broad Arab and international condemnation.
These statements come as the Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that several energy sector facilities in the southern region were targeted, causing fires and temporary disruptions to some operational processes, in addition to injuring citizens and residents. Specialized teams are currently working to contain the damage, secure the sites, and assess the impact of the attacks. The broad scope of condemnations indicates that the Houthi escalation is no longer viewed solely as an issue confined to the Yemeni conflict, especially with the simultaneous threats to maritime navigation in the Red Sea. This places the Houthi group under increasing regional and international pressure, bolstering calls for the international community to translate condemnation statements into practical actions to curb the group's military capabilities and supply networks that fuel its escalation.
