The Federal National Council Speaker Saqr Ghobash issued a strong condemnation of the Houthi militia’s attacks on Saudi civilian and economic infrastructure, according to the Emirates News Agency. Ghobash expressed the UAE’s complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia in the face of these assaults that have targeted locations including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The statement underscores the close alliance between the two Gulf nations in addressing shared security challenges.
Al Jazeera reported that the attacks earlier in October 2026 resulted in at least 12 fatalities and more than 300 injuries, with victims from multiple nationalities including Saudis, Bangladeshis and several other countries. The strikes disrupted air traffic and damaged critical facilities, prompting Saudi authorities to launch military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen. Saudi-led coalition forces announced the destruction of numerous Houthi military sites as part of their response to the incidents.
The UAE’s position aligns with multiple statements from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs that described the Houthi actions as a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. In separate diplomatic calls, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan conveyed similar messages of support to his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan. These communications highlighted joint efforts to maintain regional stability amid ongoing tensions.
Ghobash’s remarks come amid a pattern of Houthi aggression that has persisted since the beginning of the Yemen conflict. The Iran-backed group has repeatedly launched cross-border attacks, prompting a Saudi-led intervention that aimed to restore the internationally recognized Yemeni government. Monitoring by regional authorities indicates hundreds of such incidents over the past decade.
The FNC Speaker emphasized that such attacks not only endanger Saudi citizens and residents but also pose risks to broader Gulf security. He called for unified international action to counter threats from non-state actors operating in Yemen. The UAE has been an active participant in the coalition, contributing to both military and humanitarian initiatives in the region.
International reactions have included condemnations from the United States, the United Nations and several Arab states, all expressing support for Saudi Arabia. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described one of the attacks as deeply shocking in a public statement. Pakistan and Jordan also offered their full backing to Riyadh in the aftermath of the incidents.
