Pakistan condemns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia amid wider Middle East war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia, saying the strikes targeting civilian and economic sites in four cities were a violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Foreign Office said that the attacks targeted Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, and posed a threat to peace and stability across the region.

“Such attacks are a clear violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia,” Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement, adding that Pakistan fully supported the kingdom’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and security.

Pakistan also expressed complete solidarity with the Saudi leadership, government and people and wished those wounded in the attacks a speedy and full recovery.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan supported Saudi Arabia’s legitimate right to defend itself and protect its citizens.

The statement came after Houthi forces attacked four southern Saudi cities on Tuesday, wounding 73 people, according to Saudi authorities, in an escalation that could further widen the economic impact of the conflict across the Middle East.

The Houthis said that they had launched a broad military operation deep inside Saudi territory, using drones and missiles to target a Saudi airbase in Khamis Mushait and sites linked to Saudi Arabia’s state oil company in Abha, Najran and Jazan.

Saudi authorities reported fires at the targeted sites and said women and children were among those wounded.

The attacks came as the wider conflict in the Gulf intensified, with Iran and the United States exchanging fire and global oil prices rising sharply. Brent crude was trading above $99 a barrel on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Pakistan said that the Houthi attacks were also undermining efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the conflict in Yemen.

Islamabad reiterated that it would continue its efforts for lasting peace and stability in the region.