Engineer Walid Al-Khereiji, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister, confirmed on Sunday that the terrorist Houthi militia’s attacks with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones against civil and economic facilities and airports in the Kingdom are full-fledged war crimes.
Al-Khuraiji pointed out during his meeting with the ambassadors of Arab countries accredited to the Kingdom, at the headquarters of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, that the terrorist Houthi militia attacks exceeded all moral and religious considerations, by deliberately targeting Mecca, Medina, Umrah pilgrims, and visitors. Which makes confronting terrorist militias a shared international responsibility.
He stressed that Saudi Arabia's priority is to protect civilians, and to take all precautionary measures to that end, stressing that the Kingdom will not be lax in protecting its citizens, residents, or visitors, and will take all legitimate measures to defend its lands, repel aggression, and deter aggressors.
Al-Khuraiji reiterated the Kingdom's continued support for the Yemeni people and their legitimate government, and to help them confront the attacks of the terrorist Houthi militias, stressing that the terrorist Houthi militias bear full responsibility for the crimes they cause against the Yemeni people.
In turn, the ambassadors renewed their countries' condemnation of the attacks against the Kingdom and its civilian objects and vital installations, expressing their countries' solidarity with the Kingdom as it takes measures to confront these attacks, and to preserve the Kingdom's security and stability and protect its citizens and residents.
In addition, the graduate engineer received, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh, earlier, Jennifer Larson, Chargé d’Affairs at the United States Embassy in the Kingdom. During the reception, bilateral relations between the two countries were reviewed, and regional and international developments and the efforts made regarding them were discussed.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s announcement, on Saturday, that his country will implement any measure to protect and defend its brothers, “in accordance with the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” gained great momentum in the context of historical relations between the two countries, in addition to the expected reflection on developments in the geopolitical situation in the region.
On Sunday, Cairo began practical measures, represented by the decision of the National Defense Council, headed by President Sisi, to “provide all necessary and possible forms of support to Saudi Arabia.” To defend its security and stability, and to preserve its capabilities, the integrity of its lands, and the Islamic sanctities, based on the historical relations and strong ties that bind the peoples of the two brotherly countries as they are the heart of the Arab nation, and out of belief in the connection between Saudi national security and Egyptian and Arab national security.
The two countries have great and advanced military capabilities in various defense fields, and Asharq Al-Awsat spoke with observers, who confirmed that “the areas of cooperation, coordination and military solidarity in particular come to complement the political cooperation that is strengthening between Riyadh and Cairo, especially with the volume of visits exchanged between the two sides, including the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince to Egypt last month.”
Political analyst Munif Al-Harbi places the Egyptian position in a broader context than the current military developments, considering that the relationship between Riyadh and Cairo “enjoys historical specificity, and that the two countries represent two main pillars in the Arab national security equation, and between them has an extended record of support and assistance during the region’s crises.” He tells Asharq Al-Awsat that the relations between the two countries are based on a “deep political history,” recalling what was known in the 1950s as “the Arab triangle that included... Riyadh, Cairo and Damascus, before a Saudi-Egyptian duo crystallizes, capable of dealing with the transformations and threats facing the region.”
Al-Harbi cited the Saudi position in support of Egypt in 2013, and Cairo’s participation in the war to liberate Kuwait in 1990, despite its membership at the time in the “Arab Cooperation Council,” noting that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak sided with the position demanding the liberation of Kuwait. Al-Harbi summarized the nature of the relationship by saying that “the strength of the two countries is the strength of each other,” and pointed out that the Egyptian position toward Gulf security “also intersects with existing paths of regional cooperation, including that of The Quartet brings together the two countries with Pakistan and Turkey, in addition to their participation in the multinational maritime defense alliance recently established by Saudi Arabia.
Al-Harbi points out the specificity of the Yemeni file in this aspect, noting that Egypt is incurring losses estimated at about $11 billion as a result of the closure or disruption of navigation through Bab al-Mandab.
For his part, international affairs specialist Ahmed Al-Ibrahim believes that Egyptian support for Saudi Arabia “goes beyond political solidarity, and reflects a realization in Cairo of the direct connection between the security of the Kingdom, the Gulf, and Egyptian national security.”
Al-Ibrahim told Asharq Al-Awsat that granting President Sisi the required authorization “completes the necessary legal framework for any possible Egyptian military movement outside the borders, if Saudi Arabia requests it,” and legally opens the way for Cairo to consider its options, according to developments in the situation, without this necessarily meaning taking a military decision.
He added, “At the same time, the step carries a political message that the threats facing Saudi Arabia are not read by Egypt as an issue separate from regional security, and the Red Sea emerges in this context as an area of common strategic interests, in light of Egypt’s connection to the security of Bab al-Mandab, and the continuation of navigation towards the Suez Canal, in contrast to its direct importance to Saudi Arabia.”
Militarily, former Saudi officer and strategic analyst Abdul Latif Al-Mulhim believes that any additional Saudi-Egyptian military cooperation, if developments require it, “could include a number of paths, including information exchange, early warning, and air defense, in addition to maritime coordination and logistical support, in a way that enhances the ability to confront Houthi attacks and protect shipping lines.”
During his conversation with Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Mulhim pointed out the size of the military capabilities of the two countries, explaining that according to the “Global Fire Power” classification for the year 2026, “the two countries’ armies rank in the advanced ranks, and the total they possess exceeds 2,000 aircraft, including more than 500 fighters.”
Al-Mulhim continued, “Expanding coordination between the two sides could contribute to strengthening deterrence, protecting coasts and shipping lines, and reducing threats targeting the security of the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab.”
In Bahrain, the Gulf foreign ministers discussed regional developments, especially regarding Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. The attendees condemned these attacks and supported the Kingdom’s right to defend its lands.
In addition to the events in Yemen, the attendees discussed the escalation in the region, and the threats directed at freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea.
The Gulf meeting was followed by the ninth joint ministerial meeting of the Gulf-Russian Strategic Dialogue, with the aim of strengthening relations between the two sides and expanding partnership horizons in various fields.
Jassim Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, explained that the talks between the Gulf ministers and the Russian Foreign Minister will address ways to develop Gulf-Russian cooperation, and exchange views on issues of common interest, in a way that serves the interests of both sides.
In their meeting held on Sunday in Bahrain, the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries reviewed regional developments, especially the attacks carried out by the Houthi militias against Saudi Arabia.
Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, Bahraini Foreign Minister, affirmed the solidarity of the Gulf states with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and support of its right to self-defense.
Al-Zayani said in his speech during the meeting: “We stand united with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and support its inherent right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”
Al-Zayani stressed that the security of “Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.”
He stressed that "the security of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries represents a fundamental pillar of regional and international security."
Al-Zayani condemned the attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia, “and their deliberate targeting of civilian objects, vital installations and civilian airports, which resulted in casualties and injuries.”
He pointed out that "the latest of these attacks was the sinful attack on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, which claimed the lives of 14 civilians and injured more than 300 people."
He stressed that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Al-Zayani reaffirmed Bahrain's firm and supportive position of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in confronting these attacks.
Al-Zayani also appreciated the consensus achieved in the UN Security Council regarding the presidential statement, expressing Bahrain’s aspiration to build on this consensus through the Russian Federation’s support for the draft resolution submitted by Saudi Arabia to the Security Council, which Bahrain supports.
He said, "The draft resolution aims to protect civilians, stop attacks, and dry up their sources of funding and armament, while preserving humanitarian work in Yemen, and supporting the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Yemen to reach a comprehensive political solution."
For his part, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, stressed during the Gulf ministerial meeting that “the sinful attacks committed by the terrorist Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia place us in the face of deliberate criminal behavior that does not give weight to the sanctity of blood, nor to the safety of civilian facilities, nor to the consequences of escalation on the security and stability of the region.”
He renewed his condemnation of “these blatant attacks,” and his rejection of “the continued targeting of airports, civilian facilities, and energy facilities.”
Al-Budaiwi stressed that “this militia’s insistence on repeating its crimes requires effective international action to stop its attacks, hold those responsible accountable, and prevent its threat to security and stability.”
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council also condemned the repeated Iranian attacks on the GCC countries, and considered that they “represent a blatant violation of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a direct threat to their security and stability.”
He also condemned “the dangerous and continuing Iranian practices that target the security and safety of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and the attempts to use this vital international waterway as a tool for pressure and threat, thus exposing the movement of international trade and global energy supplies to grave risks.”
He called on Iran to adhere to the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, fully implement Security Council Resolution No. (2817), and ensure freedom of navigation and safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz without any restrictions or threats.
He stressed the responsibility of the international community, especially the Security Council, to take a firm stance to ensure the protection of the security and stability of the region, and the preservation of international sea lanes from any practices that threaten regional and international security and peace.
