PM Shehbaz urges Houthis to immediately stop attacks on Saudi Arabia

Add ARY News on GoogleFollow on Google Discoverimage: reutersAAResizeISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday strongly condemned what he described as repeated terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia, including strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, which resulted in civilian casualties and injuries.

In a statement on X, the prime minister praised the vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi armed forces and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition for intercepting multiple ballistic missiles and making efforts to protect civilians and safeguard the Kingdom.

“Pakistan stands in unwavering solidarity with the leadership and people of our brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he reiterated and said that in line with the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, and recent decisions taken by its Strategic Political and Defense Committee, Pakistan’s commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security was resolute.

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan also fully supported Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to defend its people and protect its cities and vital infrastructure.

“The Houthi militia must immediately cease these attacks. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia in the face of these threats,” he resolved.

Read More: Plane billows smoke at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport as Houthis escalate attacks

The statement came amid reports of an escalation in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement against Saudi Arabia, with missile strikes reportedly targeting the Kingdom’s airports and energy infrastructure that have killed three people this ‌week.

The group said it had struck Riyadh airport, where witnesses saw smoke billowing from a plane, and it warned workers to stay away from energy plants. Saudi officials said debris from an intercepted missile had hit a kindergarten and medical complex.

The Houthis say they are targeting the kingdom over its support for government forces in Yemen’s reignited civil war. Saudi Arabia says it is backing an offensive by Yemen’s UN-recognised government to take back territory from the Houthis.

The conflict, now an overspill ​of the US-Iran war, has added new chaos to a region already aflame, and threatens to draw other states into gruelling mountain fighting – with Syria now considering deploying troops to assist Saudi Arabia.

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