Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Elkhereiji described the ballistic missile, cruise missile and drone strikes of the “Houthi terrorist militia” on civilian and economic facilities and airports in the Kingdom as “war crimes in the full sense”, during a meeting today in Riyadh with the Arab ambassadors accredited to Saudi Arabia.

He said the strikes had disregarded every moral and religious consideration by deliberately targeting Makkah, Madinah, Umrah pilgrims and visitors, which makes confronting terrorist militias a joint responsibility of the international community.

Protecting civilians is the Kingdom's priority, Elkhereiji stressed, noting that every precautionary step is being taken to that end. Saudi Arabia, he added, will show no leniency in protecting its citizens, residents and visitors, and will use all lawful means to defend its territory, repel aggression and deter the aggressors.

He reaffirmed that the Kingdom will keep backing the Yemeni people and their legitimate government and helping them counter the attacks of the terrorist Houthi group, adding that the “Houthi terrorist militia” bears full responsibility for the crimes it commits against the brotherly Yemeni people.

The ambassadors, for their part, reiterated their countries' condemnation of the attacks on the Kingdom, its civilian objects and vital facilities, and voiced their solidarity with the steps Saudi Arabia is taking to confront them, safeguard its security and stability, and protect citizens and residents.