Saudi Arabia condemns Houthi strikes targeting Riyadh airport, Aramco refinery in Rabigh

Yemens Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks targeting sites in Saudi Arabia including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and an Aramco refinery in Rabigh prompting a strong condemnation from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign AffairsIn a statement on Telegram Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said on Monday that the rebel group had carried out three qualitative military operations using a large number of ballistic and cruise missiles and dronesAccording to Saree the first operation targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh He claimed that the strike was precise and direct and caused disruption of air trafficHe said the second operation targeted the Aramco refinery in Rabigh Saree claimed that the strike was precise and direct adding that it caused a fire to break out at the targeted siteThe Houthi spokesperson said the third operation targeted Abha Airport Khamis Mushait Air Base and the Aqifa camp in Asir as well as other critical sites in Najran and JizanSaree said the attacks were carried out in response to Saudi attacks against YemenIn response to the Saudi aggression against our country which launched 60 airstrikes and missile attacks in the past 24 hours targeting the capital Sanaa and the governorates of AlJawf Taiz Hajjah Sadah and Marib resulting in civilian casualties including women and children Saree said in the statementHe further claimed that the total number of Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks on Yemen since the beginning of the escalation had reached 1576The Houthi spokesperson also issued a warning to international airlines operating through Saudi airspace with the exception of the sacred airspace over Mecca and MedinaFollowing the attacks Saudi Arabias Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong condemnation of what it described as continued Houthi attacks against civilian economic and other targets in the KingdomThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias strongest condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist Houthi militias continued targeting of civilians and civilian and economic facilities in the Kingdom its blatant and repeated attacks against the holiest sites on earthmdashMakkah and Madinahmdashthe capital Riyadh and the cities of Abha Khamis Mushait Jazan Najran Taif and Yanbu and its targeting of Saudi vessels in the southern Red Sea and the Bab alMandab Strait the Saudi ministry said in its statementThe ministry said Saudi Arabia had continued its efforts towards a political settlement in Yemen since the Houthi takeover of the country in 2014 However Saudi Arabia accused the Houthis of choosing continued military escalation insteadHowever consistent with its rejection of peace the terrorist Houthi militia has instead chosen continued military escalation dragging Yemen and the brotherly Yemeni people into further humanitarian and economic suffering to serve and advance external agendas the ministry addedSaudi Arabia also reaffirmed what it described as its right to defend its territory and citizensThe Kingdom reaffirms its inherent right to defend its territory resources sovereignty and the safety of its citizens and residents and to take all necessary measures to protect its security in accordance with international law the statement saidThe Saudi ministry further reiterated its political and military support for the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government saying this was aimed at ending the Houthi takeover and restoring state institutionsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever