Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has strongly condemned the Houthi movement for targeting the holy city of Mecca, describing it as a "heinous crime" and a provocation against Muslim sentiment worldwide. The 90-year-old monarch made these comments during a cabinet meeting, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). This rare sharp intervention in current affairs by the king comes as most day-to-day affairs are led by his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The Houthi movement, which is allied with Iran, has been responsible for several deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia this month, marking one of the greatest threats to the country's security in years. King Salman commended the military and security services for "defending the homeland and resolutely confronting any aggression against the holy sites, pilgrims, citizens and residents of the Kingdom". The Saudi monarch also cited a meeting between the crown prince and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Cairo last week, as well as his conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Houthi movement has been launching missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities, energy infrastructure, and shipping, opening another front in the wider regional conflict. On Saturday, Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen said they had intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis towards the Saudi capital Riyadh, sending a dark column of smoke from a fuel storage area at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The escalation has raised the stakes for global energy supplies, as Houthi fighters expanded their control to Yemen's entire Red Sea coast.
In response to the growing regional tensions, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan last month signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, which treats an armed attack on any of its three member countries as an attack on all three. This agreement aims to enhance regional stability and security. Meanwhile, G7 foreign ministers have called on Iran to stop its military support for Houthi forces in Yemen, warning that continued assistance could fuel further tensions in the region and put international shipping and global stability at risk.
The G7 foreign ministers, comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, released a statement after a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. They condemned ongoing Houthi attacks in Yemen and against Saudi Arabia, and urged all sides to avoid actions that could further destabilize the region or interfere with maritime trade. The ministers also called for an immediate halt to attacks by Iran and stressed the importance of protecting maritime routes and freedom of navigation.
The G7 ministers reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime routes, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz and other critical waterways, as well as the security of global supply chains and the stability of energy markets. They expressed support for countries facing attacks by Iran or Iranian-backed groups, saying they have the right to defend their territories and protect their citizens. The group also condemned attacks in Iraq by Iran and Iranian militias against diplomatic facilities, energy infrastructure, and US and anti-ISIS coalition forces.
The G7 ministers further emphasized that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and called on Tehran to halt its ballistic missile program and what they described as destabilizing activities in the region and around the world. The group consists of seven major industrialized nations that regularly meet to discuss major economic, security, and international issues. The condemnation from the G7 and King Salman's strong stance against the Houthi movement reflect the growing international concern over the escalating conflict in the region.
Key points
- King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud condemns Houthi targeting of Mecca as a "heinous crime".
- G7 foreign ministers call on Iran to stop military support for Houthi forces in Yemen.
- Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan sign the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to enhance regional stability and security.
