Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers has reiterated its categorical rejection of accusations made by the Houthi group against the Kingdom, describing them as baseless allegations with no factual foundation. The statement was issued during the Cabinet’s meeting on Tuesday, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
The Cabinet said the Houthis’ involvement in regional conflicts in pursuit of their own agenda has deepened the suffering of the Yemeni people while posing a threat to regional security and stability.
It reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the Yemeni people and Yemen’s internationally recognized government, stressing that the Kingdom will maintain its efforts to promote security and stability in Yemen.
The Cabinet also emphasized that Saudi Arabia will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national security, ensure the safety of its vessels, and protect its maritime interests, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Saudi statement came after the Houthi group announced on Monday what it described as a “maritime navigation ban” on vessels linked to Saudi Arabia under what it called the “blockade-for-blockade” equation, while warning of military escalation in response to any Saudi action.
The Houthi announcement drew condemnation from the Yemeni government, several Arab states, the United Nations, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
