Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers unequivocally reaffirmed the Kingdom's inherent right to self-defense and the protection of its sovereignty, citizens, and assets. This statement comes in response to escalating deliberate attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militias targeting civilian infrastructure within Saudi territory.
During a session chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, the council strongly condemned the Houthi aggressions against civilians and civilian objects. The council emphasized that the security and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia, along with its assets, are inviolable principles that will not be compromised.
The council underscored that the Kingdom's right to defend itself, its sovereignty, its citizens, residents, and vital interests is firmly grounded in the United Nations Charter and international law. This assertion follows an observable expansion of Houthi threats to encompass new regions within Saudi Arabia.
The official Saudi stance was issued concurrently with the broadening of emergency alert warnings by Saudi authorities. These warnings, initially focused on southern areas near the Yemeni border, were extended to cities along the Kingdom's western coast, including Jeddah and Yanbu. The National Early Warning platform issued alerts for Yanbu, Jeddah, Taif, Abha, Jazan, and AlUla, though subsequent announcements indicated the dissipation of immediate threats in the targeted cities.
The inclusion of Yanbu, a critical Red Sea port and a pivotal center for Saudi energy production and export, in the alert system highlights the expanding scope of risks associated with the Houthi escalation. These threats now extend from border regions deep into the Kingdom and along its western coastline.
These warnings coincided with ongoing Houthi missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. Authorities reported that the latest wave of attacks resulted in injuries to 13 civilians, signaling an intensification of the dangers posed to Saudi cities and civilian facilities.
