MANAMA: Bahrain has joined several world leaders and organisations in strongly condemning an Iran-backed Houthi attack on a Saudi Aramco facility on Friday.
Its Foreign Ministry yesterday denounced the targeting of the petroleum products distribution station in North Jeddah, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
The ministry stressed that “these heinous terrorist attacks on oil facilities don’t only target Saudi Arabia’s security and stability but are also intended to harm the security of global energy supplies and the global economy, and threaten regional security and stability”.
It expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
Arab Coalition spokesperson Turki Al Malki said the fire that damaged two tanks had been brought under control and caused no injuries.
“This hostile escalation targets oil facilities and aims to undermine energy security and the backbone of global economy,” Al Malki said, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was one of many influential world leaders who condemned the attack promptly, saying “These strikes put civilian lives at risk and must stop,” in a social media post.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also took a strong stance against the Houthis, saying “Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the Houthis continue their destructive behaviour. Yemenis need parties to halt hostilities, and need relief,” also in a social media post.
“We will continue to work with our Saudi partners to strengthen their defences while also seeking to advance a durable end to the conflict, improve lives, and create the space for Yemenis to determine their own future collectively,” said a statement from the US Department of State shared with the media.
Jake Sullivan, White House national security adviser, condemned the attacks and called them “clearly enabled by Iran” despite an ongoing UN arms embargo, according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, called on the international community to take a stronger position. A statement said: “The Iran backed terrorist Houthis continue to attack our civilians, infrastructure and energy facilities with Iranian made missiles and UAV’s with impunity. The international community must act against this aggression that targets innocent civilians and global energy supplies.”
Government representatives from the UAE, Qatar, France, Germany, Iraq, Bosnia, Egypt, Sudan and other countries also condemned the attack.
The attack on Aramco’s facilities followed a series of attacks against Saudi Arabia the same day, one which caused a limited fire at an electricity distribution plant in Samtah town.
The Arab Coalition, meanwhile, asked civilians to stay away from weapons warehouses belonging to the Houthis in Hadda Street in Yemen’s capital Sana’a. According to it, the Houthis have weapons warehouses in Hadda Street. The coalition also cautioned residents that the Houthis are using civilians there as human shields.
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