NEOM — Saudi Arabia's initiative to end the crisis in Yemen demonstrates its continued concern for the security and stability of the war-hit country as well as the region, the Cabinet noted on Tuesday. During a virtual session chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Cabinet added that the initiative comes as serious and practical support for peace and political efforts made at the global level, stressing that the Kingdom reserves all rights to defend its territories, citizens and residents against the systematic attacks being carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi militias targeting civilian facilities and vital installations. The Cabinet expressed absolute rejection of Iranian interventions in the region, a behavior that has resulted in prolonging the Yemeni crisis through supporting the Houthis with missiles and weapons in addition to contributing to developing all kinds of weapons and violating the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. At the outset of the session, the Cabinet expressed appreciation of the brotherly and friendly countries as well as the regional and international organizations and commissions for denouncing the terrorist and subversive cowardly act that has targeted the oil refinery in Riyadh and their support for the measures being taken by the Kingdom to protect its assets and gains and preserve the world energy security. In this context, the Cabinet reiterated its confirmation that such terrorist and subversive acts which have repeatedly been committed against vital facilities and civil objects are targeting not only the Kingdom but do target, in a wider zone, the security and stability of world energy supplies and economy. The Cabinet added that such acts represent a violation of international laws and norms, calling on the world countries and organizations to stand against them and confront whoever dares to commit them or provide support for them. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Acting Minister of Media Majid Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet reviewed the overall issues and developments at the regional and international arenas, including the statement issued by the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) recently, citing the developments of the GCC joint action and ways of enhancing them as well as the developments of the current political issues in the region and the world at large. Al-Qasabi pointed out that the Cabinet expressed its condemnation of the continued Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, including the East Jerusalem and the demolition of Palestinian property, and the resulting displacement. He also expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's affirmation, before the 46th session of the Human Rights Council, of its continued support for the Palestinian cause at all levels. The Cabinet considered the success of launching Shaheen Sat and CubeSat satellites, as a result of the great support that the research, development, and innovation sector receives from the leadership and stimulating national competencies to move forward towards an industry of excellence, in specialized fields that will benefit development in various fields. The two satellites were developed by a Saudi team, to serve scientific missions that contribute to enhancing the successes achieved by the Kingdom in the space sector. The Cabinet followed up the developments of COVID-19 at the regional and international levels, and the latest statistics of the virus and vaccine, and the efforts by the competent authorities to preserve the safety of citizens and residents and to have an inclusive community immunity. The Cabinet was briefed on the issues on its agenda, including some co-studied by the Shoura Council.
