Saudi Arabia calls on UN to 'shoulder' its responsibility to end Houthi threat

This combination of pictures provided by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Media on February 10, 2021 shows the wreckage of a Houthi drone used in an attack on Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia's southern Asir province. (AFP)
This combination of pictures provided by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Media on February 10, 2021 shows the wreckage of a Houthi drone used in an attack on Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia's southern Asir province. (AFP)
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Updated 12 February 2021
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Saudi Arabia calls on UN to 'shoulder' its responsibility to end Houthi threat

Saudi Arabia calls on UN to 'shoulder' its responsibility to end Houthi threat
  • In written plea to UN security council, permanent Saudi representative calls on its members to strongly condemn Houthi militant acts
  • The letter highlights continuing attacks on kingdom launched by the militias “in a flagrant violation of international law”

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has called on the UN Security Council to “shoulder its responsibility toward the Houthi militias, backed by Iran, to stop their threats to international peace and security, and to hold them accountable” for their violent activities.

In a written plea to the council seen by Arab News, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, the permanent Saudi representative to the UN, also called on its members to strongly condemn acts of terrorism by the Houthis.

The letter highlighted the continuing attacks on the Kingdom launched by the militias from Yemen “in a flagrant violation of international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.”

One recent example given was a Houthi strike on Feb. 11 that targeted Abha International Airport, in the Kingdom’s Asir region, during which a civilian aircraft was set on fire.

“Such an act of terrorism that targets civilian infrastructure and threatens innocent civilian travelers is a heinous war crime, and the Houthi militias must be held accountable in accordance with international humanitarian laws,” Al-Mouallimi said in his letter.

He added that not only do such acts continue to derail UN efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen, they also “destabilize regional security and international peace.”

The letter was addressed to Barbara Woodward, the permanent representative to the UN from the UK, which holds the presidency of the Security Council this month, and copied to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Al-Mouallimi asked Woodward to circulate the letter as an official Security Council document.