UN and GCC denounce Huthi attacks on Saudi Arabia following missile interception over Riyadh

FILE - In this Aug. 1, 2019 file photo, a Houthi fighter holds a weapon during a gathering aimed at mobilizing more fighters for the Houthi movement, in Sanaa, Yemen. Houthi rebels in Yemen have blocked half of the United Nations’ aid delivery programs in the war-torn country — a strong-arm tactic to force the agency to give them greater control over the massive humanitarian campaign, along with a cut of billions of dollars in foreign assistance, according to aid officials and internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) A new wave of Huthi cross-border strikes targeting Saudi Arabia’s civilian infrastructure has led to widespread international and regional condemnation. The surge in reactions came as the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced the interception of a ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh, alongside fending off coordinated attacks targeting the cities of Baish, Taif, Farasan, and Yanbu. Meeting on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi jointly denounced the attacks on civilian targets, warning that the escalation poses a severe threat to regional security and stability. Escalating regional tensions Iran-aligned Huthi forces in Yemen over recent years have used ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones to strike Saudi energy facilities, airports, and urban centers. While the Saudi-led coalition has intercepted the vast majority of these projectiles, the continued targeting of commercial infrastructure and civilian population hubs remains a primary catalyst for regional instability and a point of critical focus for international diplomacy. Back to top button