Saudi Arabia not to compromise on security as Houthis choose ‘chaos’: MBS

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says the kingdom ‘will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat’.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman [File: Alex Brandon/AP]

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has promised not to compromise on the kingdom’s security in the face of attacks by the Houthi armed group, saying the Yemeni rebels chose “chaos and destruction, threatening the Yemeni people and the region”.

In a speech delivered Wednesday on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during the opening of the third year of the ninth session of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council, Prince Mohammed said the country “will not hesitate to respond firmly to any threat or attack aimed at undermining” its security.

He pointed to the trilateral Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Turkiye and Pakistan that was formalised in August , saying the alliance shows the Saudi leadership’s intent “to strengthen regional stability, shield it from the repercussions of tensions and conflicts and coordinate efforts”.

At the same time, the crown prince said, Saudi Arabia is making “every possible effort to de-escalate tensions and support diplomatic solutions without the slightest compromise on preserving our security”.

Maritime coalition to defend Red Sea

MBS also addressed the targeting of vessels by the Houthis in the Red Sea along the Bab al-Mandeb strait, rejecting the use of international waterways as a tool for political or economic pressure.

He said a “multinational defensive maritime coalition” was set up to ensure “common interests” are protected in international waterways.

In recent weeks, the Houthis have ramped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, as they fight Yemen’s internationally recognised, Saudi-backed government forces.

Last week, Riyadh said it intercepted six ballistic missiles aimed at Taif in western Saudi Arabia and the Yanbu port area on the Red Sea.

The Houthis also said they attacked “a sensitive target” in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and Saudi Aramco facilities in Yanbu.

On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Islamabad will make “whatever means” available to Saudi Arabia under the mutual defence pact if the Houthi attacks on the kingdom continue.

王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼表示，沙特阿拉伯王国“将毫不犹豫地对任何威胁做出坚决回应”。

沙特王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼 [图片：Alex Brandon/AP]

沙特阿拉伯王储穆罕默德·本·萨勒曼（MBS）承诺，面对胡塞武装组织的袭击，沙特王国的安全不会妥协。他表示，也门叛军选择了“混乱和破坏，威胁也门人民和该地区”。

穆罕默德王子周三代表萨勒曼·本·阿卜杜勒-阿齐兹·阿勒沙特国王在沙特阿拉伯协商会议第九届会议第三年开幕式上发表讲话时表示，沙特阿拉伯“将毫不犹豫地对任何旨在破坏其安全的威胁或攻击做出坚决回应”。

他指出，沙特与土耳其和巴基斯坦于 8 月正式签署了三方《麦加联合防御协议》，并表示该联盟表明沙特领导层“加强地区稳定，使其免受紧张局势和冲突的影响，并协调各方努力”的意图。

与此同时，王储表示，沙特阿拉伯正在“尽一切可能缓和紧张局势，支持外交解决方案，同时在维护自身安全方面绝不妥协”。

保卫红海的海上联盟

MBS还谈到了胡塞武装在红海曼德海峡沿岸袭击船只的行为，他反对利用国际水道作为政治或经济施压的工具。

他表示，已成立“多国防御性海上联盟”，以确保国际水道上的“共同利益”得到保护。

最近几周，胡塞武装加大了对沙特阿拉伯的袭击力度，与也门国际社会承认的、由沙特支持的政府军作战。

上周，利雅得方面表示，他们拦截了六枚瞄准沙特阿拉伯西部城市塔伊夫和红海沿岸延布港口地区的弹道导弹。

胡塞武装还表示，他们袭击了沙特首都利雅得的“敏感目标”以及位于延布的沙特阿美公司设施。

周二，巴基斯坦国防部长霍贾·穆罕默德·阿西夫表示，如果胡塞武装继续袭击沙特阿拉伯，伊斯兰堡将根据共同防御条约向沙特阿拉伯提供“一切可用手段”。