Saudi-Led Coalition Rebuts Houthi Claims, Vows ‘Unprecedented’ Response to Threats
The Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen has issued a firm warning to the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen, vowing a forceful response to any attempts to target the Kingdom or threaten Yemen‘s sovereignty.
The Big Picture: The Houthis threatened to target Saudi Arabia’s airports and vital interests, claiming that the Kingdom violated the Yemeni airspace.
‘Unprecedented’ Response
The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition rebutted the Houthi claims and warned that it will respond with unprecedented determination and force to safeguard the Kingdom and preserve Yemen’s sovereignty.
In a statement on Saturday, the Coalition’s spokesperson, Major General Turki Al-Maliki, said that the Houthi statements are “merely an attempt to divert attention away from their grave violations against the brotherly people of Yemen.”
He pointed out that the Iranian-backed militia’s claims are an attempt to “export the economic disasters and Yemeni suffering they have caused” to the region, while trying to cover “the rejections they face from tribal and social components of Yemen.”
Al-Maliki also noted that these claims fall within the Houthis’ attempts to undermine regional and international security.
A Firm Warning: Al-Maliki warned that the Coalition will respond with “unprecedented determination and force to any and all attempts to target the Kingdom, its citizens and residents and national assets, or any attempt to violate the sovereignty of the brotherly Republic of Yemen in a manner that conforms with the Customary International Humanitarian Law.”
Houthi Allegations
Al-Maliki’s statement came in response to allegations made by the militia’s spokesperson on Friday and their threat to “target Saudi airports and vital interests on land and sea.”
What They Said: In a video statement, the militia’s spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed that “Saudi warplanes” violated the Houthi-controlled airspace and attempted to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport.
State of Play: Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired by President Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, slammed the Iranian regime’s operation of a direct flight to Sanaa Airport as a “serious escalation that reaffirmed the Houthi militias’ complete subordination to the Iranian regime.”
In an extraordinary emergency meeting on Thursday, the PLC said the incident reflects “the Houthis’ continued efforts to undermine peace initiatives and reject regional and international proposals aimed at ending the conflict.”
Moreover, the PLC praised Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role and continuous efforts to end the suffering of the Yemeni people and to consolidate security and stability in Yemen and the region.
Riyadh’s Support for Legitimacy
Backstory: The Saudi-led Coalition supports the internationally recognized government in Yemen, trying to restore legitimacy to the country after the Iranian-backed Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.
“The Kingdom along with the coalition and international partners have endeavored to undertake initiatives and efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people caused by the coup carried out by the Houthi Militia,” Al-Maliki said in the statement.
He added that Riyadh and the Coalition have also tried to resolve the Yemeni crisis “through a roadmap, which the legitimate Yemeni Government approved, while the Houthis rejected; as they went beyond by rejecting efforts for lasting peace and attacked Sea Lines of Communication and international trade in the Southern Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait.”
“These actions have exposed the capabilities of the Yemeni people to targeting and mass destruction in the Ports of Hodeida, Ras Isa and Salif, in addition to Sana’a International Airport and power stations and industrial plants infrastructures and other major economic components that belong to the Yemeni people,” he noted.
The Humanitarian Aspect
Saudi Arabia has long been committed to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people and backing their aspirations. The Saudi Program for Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SDRPY) spearheads the Kingdom’s efforts to support the development of Yemen, ensuring the efficiency of project planning, implementation, and evaluation in coordination with the Yemeni government.
It has implemented 268 projects and initiatives across more than 14 Yemeni governorates. Covering 8 development sectors, the cost of these projects amounted to $1.14 billion.
Furthermore, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian arm, has played a pivotal role in driving humanitarian efforts in Yemen, executing over 1,210 humanitarian projects with investments exceeding $4.7 billion.
KSrelief’s efforts in Yemen cover various sectors, including food security, healthcare, de-mining operations, emergency relief, and education.
