Government Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Civilian Facilities, Urges Immediate Halt

As Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked civilian facilities including the international airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the South Korean government condemned the attacks and urged their immediate cessation on the 14th through a statement by the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. In the statement, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that attacks on civilians and civilian facilities can never be tolerated. It also noted that peace and stability in the Middle East are matters of critical importance to the entire international community, including South Korea, in terms of global supply chains, energy security, and more.

Behind the attacks lies the conflict between Saudi Arabia, which has intervened in Yemen's civil war, and the Houthi rebels. The Houthis have targeted major airports for a week, and a missile attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on the 10th killed 13 people.

In a statement on the 14th local time, the Houthi rebels claimed to have carried out precision strikes that sparked fires at an Aramco facility in Dhahran, eastern Saudi Arabia, as well as Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, among other sites. The Houthis said the attacks were retaliation for, and a deterrent operation against, more than 2,280 Saudi attacks on Houthi-held areas such as Sanaa. They explained that numerous ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones were deployed in the attacks. The Houthi rebels stated that operations targeting airports and oil facilities in Saudi territory would continue for the coming days.

Saudi Defense Ministry spokesperson Turki al-Malki said the kingdom intercepted the ballistic missile the Houthis fired toward Riyadh.