Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will not compromise on its security and will respond firmly to threats and attacks, accusing Yemen’s Houthi group of choosing “chaos and destruction.”
Speaking on behalf of King Salman at the beginning of the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council, Mohammed stated that Saudi Arabia was doing everything in its power to lower tensions and encourage diplomatic solutions while maintaining security.
He told Al Jazeera, “We will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack aimed at undermining” the kingdom’s security.
He also said that the Houthis had “chosen chaos and destruction, threatening the Yemeni people and the region,” reiterating Saudi support for Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
As part of efforts to bolster regional stability and coordinate security measures, Mohammed highlighted the trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Turkiye and Pakistan, which was formalized in August.
He also talked about a “multinational defensive maritime coalition” to defend common interests and international waterways following an increase in attacks by Houthis in and around the Red Sea.
The comments followed Saudi claims that it intercepted ballistic missiles targeting the Taif and Yanbu areas. The Houthis also have said they attacked targets in Riyadh and at Saudi Aramco facilities.
