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.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Nabil Fahmy, ways to enhance the work of the League and activate its role in dealing with various regional challenges.
The two sides discussed developments in the situation in the region, during a phone call that the Saudi Foreign Minister received from the Secretary-General of the Arab League on Thursday.
During the call, Fahmy expressed the League’s condemnation, in the strongest terms, of the Houthi militia’s continued attacks on Saudi territory, stressing that the Kingdom’s security is an integral part of Arab national security.
The Arab League stated, in a statement, that the two sides discussed recent regional developments and the escalation and increasing tensions the region is witnessing, and reviewed the overall communications and ongoing movements regarding them, and exchanged visions on ways to contain the escalation and avoid the widening scope of confrontations, while emphasizing the importance of continuing consultation and coordination.
The statement added that Fahmy renewed his strong condemnation of the attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent days, including the targeting of civil aviation facilities and civilian facilities, stressing the university’s full support for the Kingdom and its standing by its side in its measures to protect its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents of its lands.
The Secretary-General stressed, according to the statement, the necessity of adhering to the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter in relations between states, and respecting their sovereignty and territorial integrity, as a basis for maintaining regional security and stability, and preventing the region from sliding into further escalation.
On Thursday, the Saudi and Bahraini Ministers of Interior launched the second phase of the initiative to implement the “one point” system in the two countries, which aims to facilitate transit procedures for travelers across the King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The measure facilitates traffic across the King Fahd Causeway, which was opened on November 26, 1986, and which more than 90,000 passengers cross daily. Last March, the bridge recorded 833,000 passengers crossing, but the number doubled in April 2026, reaching about 1.5 million passengers, an increase of 80 percent.
During 2025, more than 33 million passengers were recorded across the King Fahd Causeway, an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the previous year.
Security coordination
On Thursday, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Minister of Interior, and Lieutenant General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Bahraini Minister of Interior, chaired the fifth meeting of the Security Coordination Committee emanating from the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, which was held via video call.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud confirmed, in a speech during the meeting, that holding the meeting comes as an extension of the existing security cooperation between the two countries, and to strengthen it, in light of the distinguished relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud indicated that the fifth meeting of the committee comes to enhance cooperation and coordination in security areas of common interest, confront regional challenges, and follow up on the implementation of what was agreed upon at the fourth meeting of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council, which was held in Manama under the chairmanship of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
His Highness the Minister of Interior praised the efforts made by the work teams from both sides in implementing the agreed upon initiatives, including the initiative to enhance cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, and the initiative to limit the spread of extremist ideology among youth. During the meeting, a number of topics on the agenda were reviewed, and ways to enhance security cooperation and coordination between the two countries were discussed, in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of the Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council.
Participating in the meeting from the Saudi side were Assistant Minister of Interior Dr. Hisham bin Abdul Rahman Al-Falih, Director of the National Information Center Dr. Issam bin Abdullah Al-Waqit, Director of Public Security Lieutenant General Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Bassami, Director General of the Office of the Minister of the Interior for Studies and Research Major General Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Arwan, Acting Director General of Passports Major General Dr. Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba’, Assistant Chief of General Intelligence for Intelligence Affairs Major General Khalid bin Abdul Rahman Al-Otaibi, and Director General of the General Department of Legal Affairs and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Interior, head of the team. The work of the security committee for the Saudi side was carried out by Ahmed bin Suleiman Al-Issa, the Director General of the General Department of Agreements and International Cooperation headed by State Security, Major General Khaled bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Fadhli, and the Director General of International Cooperation at the National Cybersecurity Authority, Engineer Badr bin Ibrahim bin Salamah.
From the Bahraini side, a number of senior officials and security leaders participated.
