US to strengthen the defense capabilities of its partners in the Gulf
The US State Department said in a press statement that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reiterated, in a phone call with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on Friday, Washington’s commitment to helping its partners in the Gulf enhance their defense capabilities in the face of Houthi threats.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that during the call, they discussed the strategic relations between the Kingdom and the US, and ways to support and strengthen them in all fields.
The two sides discussed the intensification of coordination and bilateral work on many regional and international issues, foremost of which is the strengthening of security and stability in the Middle East, and the efforts to lay the foundations for peace made by the countries in the region and the world.
In the wake of the recent Houthi attacks, the Saudi foreign minister considered that “the attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE constitute a threat to security and stability in the region and a major source of threats to regional and international security and stability.”
The attacks that targeted Abu Dhabi International Airport and two other civilian areas on Monday led to the explosion of 3 oil tanks and the death of 3 civilians, two of whom were of Indian nationality, and the third of Pakistani nationality, and the injury of 6 other civilians, while the Houthi group confirmed its responsibility for the attacks.
A statement issued by the Security Council on Friday said that its members condemned “in the strongest terms the heinous terrorist attacks that were launched on Abu Dhabi and other sites in Saudi Arabia, stressing that” terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
The Security Council stated that “any terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motives, wherever they were committed, and whoever committed them,” noting that all states, by all means, are required to combat them following the Charter of the UN, and following international law.
Last Wednesday, Saudi Arabia called on the Security Council and the international community to take firm international measures against the Houthi group, which “obstructs all peace efforts seeking to reach a comprehensive political solution under the auspices of the UN,” and reiterated its initiative to resolve the conflict in Yemen.
