The UN Security Council issued a presidential statement condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian and energy infrastructure. Pakistan and Kuwait also voiced strong support for Saudi Arabia's security and right to self-defense.
The United Nations Security Council adopted a presidential statement on October 15 condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The statement, issued by the rotating presidency of Greece, condemned "in the strongest terms" the continued and escalating attacks by the Houthi armed group, which included strikes on civil aviation and energy infrastructure.
Council members expressed their deepest condolences to the families of victims, as well as to the Saudi government and people. The statement emphasized the need to ensure the safety of merchant ships and their crews in the Red Sea and the Strait of Bab al-Mandab. It stressed that all parties must comply with international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and uphold freedom of navigation.
The presidential statement confirmed Saudi Arabia's right to self-defense under international law. It further emphasized that lasting peace in Yemen cannot be achieved through violence, coercion, or the use of force, reiterating support for a political settlement.
Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, strongly condemned the attacks during a Security Council debate. He called for an immediate halt to the strikes and reaffirmed Pakistan's "unwavering support for the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the brotherly Kingdom."
Jadoon stated, "We reiterate our unwavering support for the security, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the brotherly Kingdom, and reaffirm its right to self-defence under international law against any external attacks." He also backed the UN special envoy’s efforts to revive dialogue for a comprehensive peace in Yemen.
The Kuwaiti Cabinet also issued a strong condemnation on October 14. The Cabinet described the attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, and Abha Airport as a violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and international law. Kuwait reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stating that Saudi security is integral to the security of Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
The diplomatic responses follow a period of heightened tension. According to the Saudi-led coalition, the Houthis launched 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh this month, resulting in 17 deaths and 333 injuries. Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia was also targeted.
Yemen’s civil war reignited in July after a UN-brokered truce collapsed. The conflict has caused what the UN calls one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. While the Saudi-led coalition has fought the Houthis since 2015, recent months have seen renewed hostilities and a lightning Houthi advance that took the Red Sea chokepoint of Bab el-Mandeb from Saudi-backed government forces.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a military camp in southern Yemen with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 recruits and wounding 200 others, according to local authorities.
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