The United Nations strongly condemned the continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including the recent targeting of King Khalid International Airports in Riyadh and Abha, on Tuesday and Wednesday, which resulted in casualties and injuries among citizens and residents.
United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed, during the daily press conference on Thursday, that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Dujarric stressed the need to exercise the utmost restraint, and take all necessary precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and spare them the dangers of military operations.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt stressed the importance of making the necessary efforts and continuing coordination between the two countries, in a way that contributes to supporting security and stability in the region.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister, discussed regional developments during a phone call he received from his Egyptian counterpart, Dr. Badr Abdel Ati, on Thursday.
Abdel Ati expressed his country's condemnation in the strongest terms of the attacks that targeted Abha and King Khaled airports.
The Egyptian Minister stressed that this escalation and attacks on Saudi Arabia represent a destabilization and security of the region as a whole.
Abdel-Ati expressed Egypt's full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and its standing by its side in the face of everything that might threaten its security, stability, and territorial integrity.
The Saudi Society for Human Rights called on the United Nations and the Security Council to take firm action against the continued recruitment and exploitation of children in armed conflicts by the Houthi militia, and to activate relevant international measures and mechanisms to hold them accountable for these violations and limit their ability to continue them.
A statement by the association, on Thursday, condemned the Houthis’ continued recruitment and exploitation of Yemeni children, and the consequent endangerment of their lives, safety and future, depriving them of education and a safe life, and throwing them into combat operations.
The statement referred to the cases documented by relevant international reports of children being recruited and used by the militia, and what was raised regarding their exposure to content and activities of a military nature, stressing that the continuation of these practices represents a grave violation of their rights, and contradicts the international rules and guarantees established to protect them from recruitment and exploitation.
The association stressed that confronting child recruitment should not be limited to condemning or documenting violations, but rather requires actual measures to stop these practices, lead to the release of recruits, prevent their re-recruitment, and ensure accountability for those responsible.
The statement stressed that throwing children into conflicts contributes to fueling cycles of violence and extremism, prolonging the conflict, and undermining opportunities for peace and stability, affecting efforts aimed at maintaining international peace and security.
The association noted the importance of coupling efforts to stop the recruitment and exploitation of children with effective programs to rehabilitate and integrate affected children, ensure their return to their families and schools, and provide them with the necessary psychological and social support, which will help them restore their normal lives and future.
She also stressed that the protection of children cannot tolerate postponement, and that what is required is a move from monitoring the violation to stopping it, and from condemnation to accountability, indicating that the child’s place is among his family, in his school, and in his community, and not on the battlefields.
