RIYADH — Saudi Arabia called on the international community and the United Nations Security Council to take decisive measures against the Iran-backed Houthi terrorist militia. "The absence of taking firm measures against this militia is what gave it more space to harm the Yemeni people, destabilize the security and stability of the region, and significantly affect the international peace and security," said Advisor Muhammad Al-Ateeq, deputy permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations. He made the remarks while addressing the UN Security Council discussion on the "Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue." While confirming Saudi Arabia's initiative to resolve the conflict in Yemen. Al-Ateeq blamed Houthis for obstructing all peaceful efforts aimed to reach a comprehensive political solution under the auspices of the United Nations, and in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2216, the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, and the outcome of the National Dialogue Conference. The Saudi diplomat stressed that the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militia confirms day after day its indifference toward fulfilling the aspirations of the Yemeni people and maintaining the stability of Yemen. He also drew attention to Houthi's subversive role in threatening the stability of the region and international peace and security. "The biggest evidence of this is its continued threat to the safety of international navigation and the use of civilian objects and Yemeni ports to destabilize the security of the region as well as the attack on civilians in the Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, the latest of which was the cowardly terrorist attack that targeted Abu Dhabi International Airport, and the hijacking of the UAE ship Rawabi," he said. Al-Ateeq reiterated the Kingdom's full standing with the UAE in the face of everything that threatens its security and stability. He also highlighted the importance of confronting the danger of this terrorist group and its continuous threat to stability in the region and the world. Al-Ateeq drew attention to the Kingdom's right to take all necessary measures, in accordance with its obligations under the international law to respond on all terrorist practices and acts to which it is exposed to at the hands of this Iranian-backed terrorist militia. Al-Ateeq reaffirmed the Kingdom's support for the Lebanese people. He urged all Lebanese leaders to give priority to the interests of its people, and to work to achieve what the Lebanese people aspire to in terms of security, stability and prosperity, and to stop Hezbollah's terrorist hegemony over the state institutions. On the Palestinian cause, Al-Ateeq reiterated the Kingdom's unwavering position of ending the Israeli occupation, and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He also underlined the need to ensure the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland. Al-Ateeq stressed the importance of comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East the basis of the two-state solution, and in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 which guarantees the establishment of a Palestinian state on the borders of June 4, 1967, as well as the return of refugees, and the end of Israel's occupation of all Arab territories, including the Syrian Arab Golan and the Lebanese territories. He pointed out that the time has come for the international community and the Security Council to carry out their responsibilities towards supporting the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, by realizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people to build their independent state guaranteed to them by international resolutions. Al-Ateeq underscored the need to firmly confront the ongoing Israeli practices and violations of international law and Security Council resolutions.
