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Ambassador Abdulaziz Alwasil addressed the UN Security Council session on Yemen on October 9 2026 where he condemned the Houthi terrorist militia for its repeated attacks targeting Saudi civilians and infrastructure. The envoy detailed how the group carried out two assaults on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 8 that killed three Saudi citizens including a Saudia pilot and injured several others according to Arab News reporting. Alwasil stressed that such actions represent a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law while endangering the kingdom’s sovereignty and stability.
In his remarks Alwasil affirmed Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to defend its territory and protect its citizens in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. He cited earlier strikes on Abha and King Khalid International Airport on October 6 and 7 that killed three civilians and injured 36 others of various nationalities as part of an ongoing escalation. A statement submitted to the council and referenced in UN records further noted a September 8 barrage that injured 73 civilians including women and children in areas such as Abha Khamis Mushayt Jazan and Najran.
Alwasil told the Security Council that the kingdom will not allow Yemen to be turned into a staging ground for threats to its security or to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait. He warned that the Houthi threat extends beyond the region endangering international peace global trade and supply chains as outlined in coverage by Leaders Mena. The ambassador called on the council to fulfill its responsibilities by implementing resolutions 2216 and 2722 and countering arms smuggling and external support to the militia.
Saudi Arabia has always placed peace above other options yet the Houthis have rejected diplomatic initiatives in favor of military escalation that obstructs a comprehensive political solution Alwasil stated. Arab News reported that the envoy accused the militia of seeking to impose its will on Yemen and the broader region by force. The remarks came one day after the latest airport attacks that also damaged facilities and disrupted flights.
The ambassador referenced additional provocations including a September 15 attempt to target Makkah and a September 29 strike on a power distribution station in Madinah which he described as attacks on sites sacred to Muslims worldwide. UN special envoy Hans Grundberg told the council that the situation had displaced more than 11 400 households in Yemen since early September according to figures cited in Arab News. Previous UN Security Council statements in August and September 2026 had similarly condemned Houthi cross-border strikes on Saudi energy facilities and civilian areas.
Pakistan’s permanent representative joined the session by reaffirming his country’s commitment to Saudi security under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and pledging to stand shoulder to shoulder with the kingdom Dawn newspaper reported. The UNSC has previously issued statements affirming Saudi Arabia’s inherent right to self-defense in line with international law following comparable incidents. Alwasil urged the international community to take a clear stance to prevent recurrence of the attacks that threaten regional stability and civilian safety.
