RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's allies have denounced the targeting of an oil tanker by an explosive-laden boat in Jeddah on Monday. Leading the condemnation, Bahrain, one of the strongest Gulf allies, strongly condemned the attack. In a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency, the country's foreign ministry said: "This aggressive terrorist act poses a serious threat to vital installations in Saudi Arabia and the entire region, and affects the security and safety of maritime navigation," said the foreign ministry. The ministry affirmed Bahrain's support to Saudi Arabia, backing all the steps it takes to ensure its security and stability. It stressed the need for the international community to take deterrent measures against these terrorist organizations that constitute a major source of tension in the region and the world. The United Arab Emirates also condemned the attack. In a statement, the foreign ministry said that the UAE considers this attack new evidence of terrorist groups' endeavors to undermine security and stability in the region. The UAE renewed its full solidarity with the Kingdom over these subversive terrorist attacks and stood with it in one line against every threat to its security and the security of navigation and global trade. Another Gulf ally, Kuwait expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the attack. Kuwait foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday that the continuation of these terrorist acts and their dangerous repercussions that target the security of Saudi Arabia, the stability of the region, freedom of navigation, and global energy supplies, represents a flagrant violation of international laws and charters. The ministry affirmed Kuwait's support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all measures it takes to preserve its security and stability. Meanwhile, the Yemeni ministry of oil and minerals expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of all terrorist acts targeting Saudi Arabia and its oil installations, the last of which was the targeting of a fuel transport ship in Jeddah last night with a booby-trapped boat. The ministry confirmed in a statement carried by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that this terrorist act does not target Saudi Arabia only but also targets the security and stability of the region in general, including Yemen, international shipping routes, and global energy sources, reaffirming its firm position of supporting the Kingdom for measures it takes to defend its territories and sovereignty and maintain its security and stability. The Yemeni ministry called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities in condemning those behind it and to clearly confront these barbaric acts. Egypt, one of the strongest regional allies, underscored the country's "strong rejection" of any terror attacks that target the regional waters and vital facilities of Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the country's foreign ministry said that the attack represents "a threat to the Gulf country's stability and security as well as to the safety and freedom of navigation and international trade." Egypt also reaffirmed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for any measures taken by the kingdom to safeguard its security and stability in the face of all kinds of terrorism and its supporters. Another regional ally, Jordan extended its support to Saudi Arabia. The spokesman for the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs, Ambassador Dhaifallah Al-Fayez, affirmed Jordan's strong condemnation and denunciation of this cowardly terrorist act, targeting vital installations of Saudi Arabia. He affirmed that his country stands with Saudi Arabia and stands by it in the face of everything that threatens its security and the security of its people, and in all the steps it takes to defend its security and stability. The spokesman stressed that the security of the two countries is one and indivisible, and any threat to the security of the Kingdom is a threat to the security of the entire region. Lebanon's foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday, expressing its condemnation of the targeting of civilian installations and acts of sabotage that affect the freedom of international navigation. The Lebanese ministry expressed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its endeavors to maintain its security and stability. Pakistan also rallied behind Saudi Arabia, denouncing the attack. In a press statement on Monday, the Pakistani foreign ministry said such attacks threaten the peace and security of Saudi Arabia as well as the region and that Pakistan calls to immediately stop them. Pakistan reiterates full support and solidarity with the Kingdom to face off any threat targeting its security and territorial integrity, the statement added. Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Abul Gheit in a statement said that such sabotage acts are rejected and condemned, confirming full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in any measure it takes in defense of its security and protection of the Red Sea navigation freedom. Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen denounced, in the strongest words, the cowardly terrorist attack using an explosive-laden boat on a vessel carrying oil while anchored off Jeddah. In a statement on Monday, the OIC chief said that such terrorist, sabotage, and criminal acts against vital facilities go beyond Saudi Arabia and its vital facilities to the security and stability of energy supplies of the entire world; and moreover, threaten the traffic of maritime navigation and freedom of global trade in addition to threatening regional coasts and waters, making them vulnerable to environmental disasters. He expressed support for the contents of a statement issued by the Saudi ministry of energy, calling for taking the most deterring and practical measures against all terrorist entities who manage to carry out and support such subversive acts. Ambassador of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia Dhiauddin Bamakhramah, who is also the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, said that the attack did not only target the Kingdom and its vital facilities but also targeted the world energy supplies, in addition to the global security and stability. He emphasized Djibouti's solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its right to defend national interests, the security, and the stability of the region.
