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The Saudi Press Agency reported that Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a telephone call from UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Edward Miliband during which the two officials reviewed bilateral relations and the latest regional developments. Miliband renewed the United Kingdom’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of attacks launched by the Houthi militia. He stressed the Kingdom’s right to take necessary measures to defend its security and capabilities in accordance with international law. The ministers agreed on the value of intensifying joint efforts to guarantee security and freedom of navigation in regional waterways.
Those efforts contribute to broader regional stability while shielding global trade and supply chains from the effects of the ongoing crisis according to the Saudi Press Agency account of the conversation. The call occurred one day after Houthi strikes targeted civilian infrastructure inside the Kingdom. Prince Faisal and Miliband also explored ways to coordinate on mitigating the security and economic repercussions of heightened regional tensions.
In a separate call the Saudi Press Agency said Prince Faisal heard from Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani who began by conveying his country’s condolences. Al Zayani expressed sympathy over the deaths of Saudi citizens and residents in the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. He reaffirmed Bahrain’s full solidarity with the Kingdom and its complete support for measures taken to protect Saudi sovereignty, security, stability and the safety of citizens and residents. The two ministers then examined recent regional developments and their nations’ shared work to preserve security across the area.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation stated that the Houthi militia carried out two attacks on Sunday targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Smoke and flames were visible at the Riyadh facility following the strike which caused casualties among both citizens and expatriates. The incidents form part of a pattern of Houthi actions that have drawn repeated expressions of support for Saudi Arabia from Gulf Cooperation Council members and international partners.
The Bahraini position was also detailed in a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency which noted Al Zayani’s emphasis on joint coordination to de-escalate tensions. Such diplomatic exchanges have become more frequent in recent months as Saudi Arabia faces continued threats from Iran-backed groups operating in Yemen. Earlier calls between the same parties in September addressed comparable attacks and produced parallel commitments to maritime security and regional stability according to archived Saudi Press Agency dispatches.
Prince Faisal’s discussions with both ministers underscored the Kingdom’s focus on collective responses to threats that affect not only Saudi territory but also international air travel and trade routes. The United Kingdom has maintained a consistent stance in condemning Houthi actions while advocating adherence to international legal standards in self-defence. Bahrain’s swift expression of condolences and solidarity reflects the close fraternal ties between the two Gulf states that have been reinforced through successive rounds of high-level contact this year.
