Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, warned the Houthis against targeting civilians and civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia, saying coalition forces were fully capable of confronting missiles, drones and cruise missiles.
Speaking at a news conference in Riyadh on Thursday evening, al-Maliki urged the Houthis to halt attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the kingdom.
“The terrorist Houthi millitias must stop their attacks on civilians in Saudi Arabia, and they should carefully read the coalition’s statement — and between the lines,” he said.
Al-Maliki said the Houthis had obtained advanced technology with the help of regional parties, enabling them to acquire ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones and explosive-laden fast boats.
He said the development placed responsibility on the international community to prevent terrorist groups from gaining access to advanced weapons and technology.
“The leadership of the coalition’s joint forces affirms that its operations will continue to deter the terrorist Houthi millitias from attempting to target civilians and civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia and from threatening freedom of navigation in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait,” he said.
Al-Maliki also reaffirmed support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government and armed forces “on all fronts,” along with round-the-clock air support for units on the ground.
19 killed, 364 injured
Al-Maliki said Houthi attacks on airports in the kingdom had killed 19 people and injured 364, adding that 1,104 missiles and 1,135 drones had been launched since operations began.
He said Houthi attempts to target Islam’s two holiest mosques reflected a systematic hostile approach and amounted to a “heinous act” aimed at pilgrims and visitors.
According to al-Maliki, Houthi violations since the 2022 truce included about 175 ballistic missiles, 330 drones, 2,229 projectiles launched from drones and 28,121 unidentified projectiles.
He stressed that Saudi Arabia had the intelligence capabilities to identify targets and confront threats.
“We have the capability to deal with these missiles, drones and cruise missiles,” he said.
During the news conference, al-Maliki showed footage of coalition aircraft striking ballistic missile launchers, weapons depots and facilities he said the Houthis used to support military operations.
He said coalition forces had also neutralized an imminent ballistic missile attack on the kingdom.
Attacks threaten passenger safety
Al-Maliki condemned Houthi attacks on civilians and civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, noting that thousands of passengers and civilians use such facilities every day.
He also pointed to attempted attacks on airports, ports and oil facilities in the kingdom.
Al-Maliki said Houthi attacks on civilians were a flagrant violation of international norms, adding that attacks on airports “undermine the kingdom’s security, threaten international air traffic and endanger the lives of passengers of various nationalities.”
He said the coalition had destroyed 127 storage facilities in mountainous areas and a launch platform in Yemen.
Al-Maliki said the Houthis had built mountain storage facilities concentrated in Sanaa, Saada and Amran, from which attacks were launched against Yemen and neighboring countries.
“The leadership of the coalition’s joint forces is working to dismantle this network and eliminate the experts and operators behind these capabilities by destroying mountain storage facilities and fixed and mobile launch platforms, based on an intelligence system operating around the clock,” he said.
Saudi defense systems on high alert
Al-Maliki said the Saudi armed forces had advanced, highly combat-ready systems, including air defenses capable of intercepting threats and thwarting attempted attacks.
He said the systems were designed to protect the kingdom’s sovereignty, security, strategic assets and holy sites, as well as citizens and residents.
“We have the capability to identify the locations used by the Houthi militias, and we are working to dismantle the terrorist network and eliminate the experts involved,” he said.
Al-Maliki again stressed the coalition’s strict commitment to international humanitarian law, saying it had taken all feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties or damage while planning operations to neutralize Houthi capabilities used in attacks.
