Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivered a statement pledging the country’s commitment to protecting its security against attacks by the Houthi armed group. Speaking on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during the opening of the third year of the ninth session of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council on Wednesday, the crown prince characterized the Yemeni rebels as having chosen a path of “chaos and destruction” that threatens both Yemen and the broader region.
The crown prince reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia would respond firmly to any threat or attack targeting the kingdom’s security. He highlighted the trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement signed in August with Turkey and Pakistan, framing the alliance as a demonstration of the Saudi leadership’s commitment to regional stability and coordination in addressing regional tensions and conflicts.
Addressing the broader security landscape, the crown prince stated that Saudi Arabia continues to pursue de-escalation and diplomatic solutions while maintaining an unwavering stance on security preservation. He also addressed maritime security concerns, specifically rejecting the use of international waterways as instruments for political or economic leverage. The crown prince noted that a multinational defensive maritime coalition has been established to safeguard common interests in international waterways, in apparent reference to Houthi operations in the Red Sea near the Bab al-Mandab strait.
Recent escalations have intensified tensions, with the Houthis conducting multiple attacks against Saudi targets. Last week, Saudi officials reported intercepting six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif in western Saudi Arabia and the Yanbu port facility on the Red Sea coast. The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking sensitive targets in Riyadh and Saudi Aramco installations in Yanbu. Following these developments, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif indicated that Islamabad would provide whatever support necessary to Saudi Arabia under their mutual defence agreement if Houthi attacks persist.
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