Saudi Arabia Asserts Right to Defend Itself as UNSC Condemns Houthi Attacks

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the kingdom has an inherent right under international law to defend its security, after the UN Security Council issued a presidential statement condemning Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. The ministry welcomed the council's position in a statement.

The Saudi Gazette quoted the ministry as saying: "The Kingdom appreciates the solidarity of Security Council members in confronting attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects on its territory and emphasizes its inherent right under international law to take all measures necessary to defend its security and protect its citizens and residents." The Peninsula Qatar reported that the statement cited attacks on civilian sites, airports and energy infrastructure, as well as continuing threats to shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab Al Mandeb Strait. The Peninsula described the strait as a key maritime passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

According to the Saudi Gazette, the Security Council strongly condemned the ongoing and escalating Houthi attacks, particularly those targeting civil aviation and energy infrastructure that resulted in civilian deaths and injuries. Council members specifically condemned the "reckless strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport" on October 10 and 11, which caused fatalities and injuries. The statement also denounced attacks on other Saudi airports and on Saudi Aramco facilities, the Saudi Gazette said.

The Saudi Gazette said the council called on the Houthis to immediately halt their military escalation. It also reported that the council stressed full implementation of Resolution 2216 (2015) and subsequent resolutions, and called for stronger practical cooperation, including with the Yemeni government, to stop weapons and military assistance reaching the Houthis. The council said this should cover weapons and related materiel, technical assistance, training, financing and other support linked to military activities.

The Peninsula reported that Riyadh also stressed the importance of fully implementing Resolution 2216, adopted in 2015, and called for practical cooperation to prevent the Houthis from obtaining weapons and other forms of support. The Saudi Gazette added that the council reaffirmed its support for Yemen's internationally recognized government and for UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg and his efforts to secure a comprehensive political settlement through negotiations.

How we got here

• September 25: Qatar Standard reported that Saudi air defenses intercepted six ballistic missiles fired by the Houthis toward Taif and the Yanbu area on the Red Sea coast. The same report said military chiefs from Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia met in Riyadh that day over the Houthi threat.
• October 10 and 11: The Saudi Gazette reported that the Security Council statement singled out strikes on King Khalid International Airport on these dates, which caused fatalities and injuries.
• October 11: Qatar Standard reported that the Houthis warned airlines, travellers and airport workers to avoid Saudi airports and Saudi airspace after a deadly attack on Riyadh's international airport. That report, which cited The Straits Times for the warning, said operations at the airport were temporarily suspended and that details of the attack had not been confirmed.
• October 16: Qatar Standard reported that the GCC and the European Union had postponed their summit, planned for October 24 in Riyadh, because of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. No new date has been set, according to the outlets cited in that report.
• October 16: The Saudi Gazette and The Peninsula Qatar published the Saudi foreign ministry's response to the Security Council statement.