Al-Eryani calls on the Security Council to take action to hold those responsible for the Riyadh Airport attack accountable

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The Yemeni Minister of Information, Muammar Al-Eryani, called on the international community, especially the Security Council and organizations concerned with civil aviation, to take practical steps to hold accountable those responsible for the Houthi militia attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and the parties involved in supporting them, and to prevent their recurrence.

Al-Eryani said, in a post on the “X” platform: “When the terrorist Houthi militia targets King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, and innocent civilians of multiple nationalities are killed, we are not facing a military achievement, but rather a terrorist attack on human lives and civil aviation security, which once again reveals the nature of this militia and its disregard for human values ​​and international laws and norms.”

When the terrorist Houthi militia targets King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and innocent civilians of multiple nationalities are killed, we are not facing a military achievement, but rather a terrorist attack on human lives and civil aviation security, which reveals once again the nature of this militia and its disregard for human values ​​and international laws and norms. The power of armed terrorist groups and militias is not measured by their ability to kill innocent people, nor do crimes turn into victories by changing their names. Civilian airports are not battlefields, and the lives of passengers are not chips for political bargaining. Targeting civilians does not grant its perpetrators legitimacy or achieve victory for them, but rather reveals their inability to respect the most basic principles on which international humanitarian law is based. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its capabilities, capabilities and well-established institutions, is capable of protecting its security and sovereignty and confronting any attack targeting its lands and the safety of its citizens and residents. However, terrorism, by its nature, is a cross-border threat whose risks do not stop at the borders of the targeted country, and the responsibility for confronting it should not be left to the country alone, especially when its danger extends to international civilian facilities frequented by travelers of different nationalities. Targeting an international airport does not only represent an attack on the security of a specific country, but also constitutes a direct threat to the international civil aviation system, the safety of millions of travelers, and the principles on which freedom of movement and the security of air transport are based. Hence, this attack should not be treated as an isolated incident, but rather a dangerous indicator of what terrorist threats can lead to when armed groups have advanced military capabilities.It finds someone to provide it with weapons, technology, and expertise, and provides it with reasons to continue and escape accountability. Being satisfied with statements of condemnation and denunciation, without taking serious and effective international measures to hold those responsible for these attacks accountable and prevent their recurrence, sends a dangerous message that targeting airports and civilian facilities can go without consequences. Moreover, ignoring parties proven to be involved in arming these groups and enabling them to carry out their attacks would encourage the recurrence of crimes and expand the circle of threat to other countries and societies. The deep-rooted fraternal ties, strategic interests, and common destiny that bring together Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia make the security and stability of the two countries a shared, non-negotiable responsibility. The security of Yemen is inseparable from the security of the Kingdom, and the security of the two countries is an integral part of the security and stability of the region, the protection of sea lanes and airspace, and the safety of international trade and movement. We affirm our full solidarity with the brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the leadership, government and people, our strong condemnation of this terrorist attack, and our firm confidence in the Kingdom’s ability to protect its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also renew our call to the international community, first and foremost the UN Security Council and international organizations concerned with civil aviation, to fulfill its legal and moral responsibilities, and to take practical steps to hold the perpetrators of these attacks and those involved in supporting them accountable, and prevent their recurrence. The security of civil airports and the safety of passengers is not a local matter, but rather a shared international responsibility, and any leniency towards targeting them today may open the door to threatening civil aviation security in other countries.tomorrow. Terrorism that is not faced with accountability and deterrence does not stop at the borders of its first victims, but rather turns into a danger that threatens everyone.

This comes as the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out 1,732 air and artillery strikes as part of Operation “Yemen Dawn,” targeting defensive sites, command and control centers, weapons and ammunition stores, and military vehicles belonging to the Houthi militia.

The Yemeni Armed Forces explained in a statement that the operations resulted in the neutralization of more than 900 militia members, and the destruction or disabling of 287 military vehicles and equipment, in addition to targeting high-value military sites in depth, and cutting off reinforcements and supplies in conjunction with the field advance and the penetration of the Houthis’ defensive fortifications.

For his part, Yemeni Prime Minister Sha'i al-Zindani described the Yemeni Armed Forces' control of Bab al-Mandab as a strategic turning point in the war against the Houthi militia. Al-Zindani stressed that the military operation "Yemen Dawn" aims to restore state institutions and end the militia's control.

The Prime Minister of Yemen said that the Houthi militia took the battle to civilians, airports and civilian facilities after being overwhelmed by defeats in the field, stressing that this is an aggressive approach that targets Yemen and the Kingdom and threatens the security of the region.