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Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil strongly condemned terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia on civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran. The strikes injured 73 civilians including women and children, Alwasil said in his address to the emergency meeting of the Security Council on September 11, according to the Saudi Press Agency. He warned of the serious repercussions the escalation holds for security across the region.
Alwasil called on the council to assume its responsibilities by issuing a clear and firm stance regarding these assaults and ensuring the full application of pertinent resolutions. The ambassador pointed to the threats the attacks represent to Saudi Arabia’s security, its people and assets as well as to international navigation and commerce through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. He urged an end to all support enabling the militia to persist in its hostile behavior.
The Foreign Ministry had issued a statement on August 9 welcoming a UN Security Council condemnation of Houthi missile strikes on the Kingdom since mid-July and attacks on merchant ships, the Saudi Press Agency reported at the time. That statement reiterated Saudi Arabia’s appeal for the international community to enforce UN resolutions and confront practices that jeopardize peace in Yemen. The ministry affirmed the Kingdom’s resolve to defend itself under international law.
Similar appeals have featured in Saudi communications with the Security Council over the years, including letters submitted in 2018 and 2021 that accused the Houthis of violating international humanitarian law with Iranian backing. A 2021 letter from the Saudi mission highlighted injuries from an attack on Jazan airport and called for the council to hold the militia accountable. These repeated interventions reflect persistent concerns over the militia’s capacity to destabilize the wider area.
The Houthi actions continue to complicate UN-led peace efforts in Yemen, where Resolution 2216 demands an end to the violence and restoration of the legitimate government. Alwasil’s remarks underscored Saudi Arabia’s backing for these initiatives while stressing the need to cut off external assistance to the group. Regional observers note that unchecked attacks risk further escalation in maritime security challenges affecting global trade.
