The Arab Parliament launched an expanded regional and international parliamentary action plan to confront the Houthi militia and its repeated attacks against Saudi Arabia, aiming to mobilize a firm international position to confront their attacks, work to classify the group as a terrorist organization, dry up its sources of funding and armament, and hold those responsible for its crimes and violations accountable in accordance with international law.
The plan is based on effective and influential parliamentary movements led by the Arab Parliament on four main tracks, the first of which is the diplomatic track, which targets international decision-making capitals through direct communication with the parliaments of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Parliament seeks to mobilize an international position in support of the Arab movement, and to push for firm international positions and measures to stop the Houthi attacks, hold those responsible for them accountable, and confront the sources of support, financing and armament that enable the militia to continue its criminal activities.
The plan aims to activate the tools of parliamentary diplomacy to mobilize regional and international support for classifying the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization among countries and regional and international organizations that have not yet taken this measure, most notably the European Union, through direct communication with the Presidency of the European Parliament and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
It seeks to urge the competent European institutions to complete the necessary legal procedures to include the militia on the lists of terrorist organizations approved by the European Union, in accordance with the applicable legal mechanisms, and to expand the scope of the restrictive measures and penalties imposed on its leaders and entities associated with it that support its terrorist activities.
The measures include freezing assets and funds, and imposing relevant financial restrictions, which contributes to undermining the militia’s ability to continue its attacks and threaten regional and international security and stability.
Parliament aims to activate the mechanisms of international justice and legal accountability, by preparing a comprehensive and documented legal file that includes the attacks and violations committed by the Houthi militia that amount to full-fledged war crimes and other crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court, and submitting a report thereon to the Office of the Prosecutor of the Court.
These efforts come in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute and the terms of the court’s jurisdiction. The plan also seeks to urge the concerned countries to take available legal measures to prosecute those responsible for these crimes, hold them accountable, and prevent them from escaping punishment.
The plan aims to mobilize regional and international support to take practical measures to dry up the sources of financing and arming the Houthi militia, and to pursue financing and smuggling networks, commercial fronts, and all financial transfers involved in supporting its military activities.
This plan comes within the Arab Parliament's movements to confront the repeated Houthi criminal attacks against Saudi Arabia's lands and its civil, economic and vital facilities.
The Parliament indicated that the repercussions of the Houthi attacks are not limited to threatening Saudi Arabia’s security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens and residents of its lands, but rather extend to constitute a direct threat to the security of maritime and air navigation, the stability of global energy supplies, supply chains, and the international trade movement, in a way that affects Arab national security, regional and international peace and security.
The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced, at dawn on Friday, the interception and destruction of a drone in the Eastern Region, the day after the destruction of 4 marches launched by the Houthi militia towards the Riyadh and Eastern regions.
The Saudi Civil Defense issued an early warning in the Jazan region to warn of a danger, before announcing its disappearance a few minutes later, calling on the people and residents to continue following instructions, completely avoiding gatherings and photography, and contacting the emergency number “998” when needed.
On Thursday, the UN Security Council condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and their threats to commercial ships in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea, stressing the Kingdom’s right to defend itself.
The Council also adopted a resolution that includes a call to intensify the fight against arms smuggling to the Houthi militia by land and sea, and to tighten control over their provision of drone components and ballistic missiles, assigning the team of experts to track the sources of Houthi funding and revenues.
UN Security Council Resolution No. 2837 was met with Gulf welcome and appreciation for Britain’s efforts to present its draft, which Jassim Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, considered an important step to strengthen the international position rejecting the treacherous Houthi attacks.
Al-Budaiwi stressed the need to translate the resolution into an actual commitment to stop these attacks, protect civilian lives and facilities, and put an end to the threat to the security of the region and the safety of international navigation, renewing Gulf support for all endeavors in support of the legitimate Yemeni government, to preserve Yemen’s sovereignty, unity, security and stability, and to meet the aspirations of its people for peace and development.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey confirmed working together in the field of developing and localizing defense industries in light of the great opportunities available in this field and the challenges facing the region, which require close cooperation between them.
Bandar Al-Khorayef, Minister of State, Member of the Saudi Council of Ministers, and Acting Governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, said that cooperation with Turkey has witnessed further progress after Saudi Arabia announced its industrial and mining strategies, and that the two countries are making great efforts in the field of defense industries.
Al-Kharif described Türkiye's experience in the defense industries as successful, and said that the challenges facing the region require us to work closely together to localize many industrial sectors.
The minister participated in the “Turkish-Saudi Defense Industry Days” event, which was held over two days in Istanbul, and concluded on Thursday evening with the participation of more than 100 Turkish companies and 25 Saudi companies, to discuss opportunities for cooperation. Al-Khorayef explained that Saudi Arabia has made remarkable progress in attracting investments to its defense industry, and aims to increase these investments through partnership between Saudi and Turkish companies.
The event, which was co-organized by the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Council, the Saudi Defense Industries Company, and the Saha Istanbul Group, came within the framework of growing defense cooperation between the two countries, especially in the field of defense industries, technology transfer, and localization of production, in light of the signing of the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement” on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.
Al-Khorayef said that the private sector will lead investments and the development of defense industries, stressing that cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Turkey is based on common interests, and that the primary task of the governments of the two countries is to pave the way for the private sector, and to provide support in 3 main areas, which are: identifying priority areas for cooperation and investment, creating an integrated environment that includes the infrastructure and financing opportunities that the private sector needs, ensuring the necessary contracts for companies to make investment decisions, and providing the ability to predict future demand.
Al-Kharif stated that Saudi Arabia is focusing its investments in areas where it gives priority to certain technologies at the present time and in the near future, and that education and human resources will be crucial elements in the future of the defense industries, and that the use of modern technologies in the military and defense industries will significantly change the future of this sector.
He stressed that trained human resources, youth potential, and education will play a decisive role in this transformation, and that Saudi Arabia and Turkey have great opportunities in these areas.
He pointed out that Saudi Arabia is focusing on attracting companies with experience and technical capabilities in the field of defense industries, and that the Saudi Defense Industries Company and the “Rukn Program” play an important role in enhancing investment and cooperation opportunities.
During the “Suppliers Corner” meeting, which was organized by the Saudi Defense Industries Company, during the event, Al-Khorayef confirmed that Saudi Arabia continues, with the support of its leadership, to build advanced national industrial capabilities and enhance the attractiveness of the defense industries sector for quality investments, to achieve the “Saudi Vision” goal of localizing more than 50 percent of defense industries by 2030.
He explained that the Saudi-Turkish partnership in the military industries sector depends on close cooperation, transfer of technology and knowledge, and development of competencies, which supports localization and enhances the ability of companies to compete internationally, expressing his aspiration to translate relations into long-term investments and partnerships.
The head of the Defense Industries Authority of the Turkish Presidency, Khaluk Gurgun, said that his country is working to develop sustainable partnerships with Saudi Arabia in the field of defense industries, by sharing experiences and enhancing cooperation in the fields of technology, research and development, based on the great progress Türkiye has achieved in this sector over the past two decades.
He stressed the importance of expanding cooperation activities in defense industries with Saudi Arabia and enhancing communication in various fields, whether in procurement operations, research and development, competency development, or program management.
Gurgun pointed out that the “Turkish-Saudi Defense Industry Days” in Istanbul specifically aimed to enhance interaction between small and medium-sized companies in the two countries, develop supply chains, and open the way for joint business opportunities.
He added that the proposed areas of cooperation between Turkey and Saudi Arabia include research and development activities, developing human capabilities, talents and competencies, managing infrastructure and research programs, improving program management and procurement mechanisms, as well as identifying joint investment opportunities.
He stated that the Turkish Defense Industries Authority is working on preparing programs that bring together Turkish companies with local partners in Saudi Arabia, stressing the existence of successful models of cooperation in this framework.
Gurgun pointed out that Türkiye organized many events similar to the Istanbul event with Saudi Arabia during the last three years, and continues to organize them, and that the two sides held more than 75 meetings regarding defense industries during this period.
