Pakistan assails Houthi attempt to target Saudi airport

Islamabad calls for an immediate cessation of Yemeni rebels’ attacks, says Foreign Office

Pakistan on Tuesday strongly condemned the drone attack launched by the Houthis to target King Abdullah airport in Jazan, which caused several injuries.

On Monday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said its forces had destroyed a drone launched towards King Abdullah airport in the southern Saudi Arabian city of Jizan, state media reported.

Shrapnel from the destroyed drone resulted in 16 civilian injuries, state media quoted a coalition statement as saying. The coalition added that the drone was launched from the Yemeni capital Sanaa's airport.

“We wish a speedy recovery to those injured in the attack,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

Also read: 16 injured as Saudi-led coalition foils drone attack on Jizan airport

Such attacks not only violate international law but also threaten the peace and security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the region, he added. “Pakistan calls for an immediate cessation of these attacks.”

Pakistan reaffirms its full support and solidarity with the kingdom against any threats to its security and territorial integrity.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Houthis ousted the internationally recognised government from Sanaa. The movement says it is fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression.

(With additional input from Reuters)