Doha, Qatar: The State of Qatar condemned the Houthi targeting of civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran in the fraternal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which resulted in the injury of a number of civilians, including women and children, in addition to its continued targeting of commercial ships in the Red Sea and threatening the security, safety and freedom of international maritime navigation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that these attacks represent a reprehensible act of aggression and an unacceptable disregard for the lives of civilians and the security of the countries of the region, as well as a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a clear breach of the rules of international law, and a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region.
The ministry called on the international community to assume its responsibilities and take a firm stance against these violations, and to ensure the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions, foremost among them Resolution 2216 on Yemen, and Resolution 2722 on the security and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
It also affirmed that freedom of navigation through international waterways is a right guaranteed under international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The ministry reiterated the State of Qatar's full solidarity with the fraternal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all legitimate measures it would take to maintain its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity, and interests. It further affirmed that the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an integral part of the security of the State of Qatar and the collective security system of the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
The ministry expressed the State of Qatar's wishes for a swift recovery for the injured, praying to Allah the Almighty to keep the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people from harm's way.
