Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan condemned the escalation carried out by the terrorist Houthi militias in Yemen, including their attacks on the Kingdom and targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, calling for an immediate cessation of all military actions, threats and attacks, and a return to the political process in good faith.
The foreign ministers of the four countries, within the Quartet, affirmed their full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government, stressing that the unacceptable Houthi escalation has exacerbated human suffering, during a meeting they held in Istanbul, which addressed a number of regional and international issues, most notably the situations in Yemen and Palestine, the tension between the United States, Iran and Israel, and the challenges facing maritime navigation security.
In an expanded meeting that included the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, along with their counterparts in the Quartet, the ministers discussed the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government, in addition to the American-Israeli-Iranian conflict, developments in the Palestinian territories, and the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, and the Black Sea.
The ministers stressed the need to address regional conflicts through dialogue, diplomacy and de-escalation, and to reach sustainable negotiated solutions based on relevant United Nations resolutions, stressing continued coordination and dialogue to prevent conflicts and promote peace and stability in the region.
Regarding the tension between the United States, Israel and Iran, and developments related to the Strait of Hormuz, the ministers stressed the need to limit the resolution of the conflict to the diplomatic track and dialogue, and to avoid targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, including ships, expressing their support for the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad, welcoming diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation, and renewing their commitment to reaching a sustainable negotiated solution.
They stressed the critical importance of freedom of navigation, ensuring the permanent safety and security of maritime navigation, and protecting navigational rights and freedoms, warning that disrupting sea lanes threatens the security and prosperity of countries, and disrupts global supply chains and flows of energy, fertilizers, and food, thus exacerbating the pressures on the most vulnerable population groups in the region and beyond.
The Ministers rejected any measures or restrictions that would hinder legitimate navigation, calling for the rapid and complete resumption of safe and unhindered traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and stressing the need for the international community to undertake collective efforts to confront the challenges that threaten the security of sea lanes.
Regarding the Palestinian issue, the ministers affirmed that the Israeli occupation represents the primary source of instability in the region and beyond, considering that Israeli policies reinforce the feeling of injustice among world public opinion, and reiterated their support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, foremost of which is their inalienable right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent, sovereign, viable and territorial state.
They called for the urgent implementation of the two-state solution in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, based on the borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, paving the way for achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
They also called for an immediate end to the ongoing Israeli violence, an end to attempts to change the legal and historical status of Jerusalem, and an end to further destruction and human tragedy in the Palestinian territories, condemning settlement activities in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and settler violence against Palestinians.
The ministers stressed the need to continue the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip without interruption, and to continue reconstruction efforts, in light of the urgent need to alleviate human suffering.
Participants in the two meetings agreed to continue consultation and close coordination on the issues raised, and to strengthen diplomatic efforts aimed at containing tensions and supporting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
The Saudi Civil Defense issued alerts through the National Early Warning Platform in emergency situations to warn of a potential danger in Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and Yanbu, calling on residents to adhere to the instructions issued by the competent authorities and take the necessary safety measures.
The warnings included Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Jeddah, and Taif in the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region, in addition to Yanbu Governorate, according to what the Civil Defense announced through its official account.
The safety instructions accompanying the warnings stressed the need to remain calm, follow official instructions, go immediately to the nearest safe place inside buildings, and stay in indoor spaces away from windows until the danger has passed.
It also called for not leaving homes or buildings before the danger has passed, staying away from windows, glass, balconies and roofs, avoiding open areas and dangerous gatherings, and not stopping to take pictures or photograph events.
The instructions stressed the need to stop on the side of the road away from bridges and heights when receiving a warning while driving, and to go to the nearest safe building when outside.
The Civil Defense called for reporting risks via the number 911 in the Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Medina, Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, and the number 998 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions, while following the official directives issued by the competent authorities.
Later, the Saudi Civil Defense announced that the danger had passed from the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region and Yanbu Governorate, calling on residents to continue adhering to safety instructions and avoid gatherings and photography, stressing the necessity of calling (911) in emergency situations.
The Civil Defense explained, through its official account on the “X” platform, that the danger has passed from the Makkah Al-Mukarramah region and Yanbu Governorate, in an update to the alerts issued by the National Early Warning Platform in emergency situations to warn of potential dangers.
The Civil Defense stressed the importance of continuing to follow safety instructions issued by the competent authorities, and not gathering or photographing events, while following developments through official channels.
