Al-Maliki: Regional parties armed Houthis with advanced technologies

RIYADH — Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, announced on Thursday that the Coalition inflicted huge losses to the Houthi terrorist militia, including destruction of 127 weapons depots, numerous launch platforms and vital sources of funding. Addressing a press conference in Riyadh on Thursday, Al-Maliki said that some regional parties have armed the militia with advanced technologies. “Saudi Armed Forces possess highly advanced combat systems and a highly efficient air defense system capable of intercepting threats and foiling targeting attempts. This ensures the protection of the Kingdom's sovereignty, security, resources, holy sites, citizens, and residents,” he said. The spokesperson said the militia had established weapons storage facilities in mountainous areas of Sanaa, Saada and Amran, using them as bases for launching attacks. The Houthis were also using tunnel entrances and natural cavities in mountains to launch missiles, he pointed out. Al-Maliki revealed that the Coalition had targeted vital sources of funding for the Houthi terrorist militia, including Al-Sabaha Central Station in Sanaa, marine berths in Ras Issa in Hodeidah, an underground fuel depot in Hodeidah, and another fuel depot in Dummar. He stated that the Coalition had destroyed several tunnels, a missile launch platform, and ballistic missile depots in Sanaa, Saada, and Amran. The Coalition had also successfully intercepted cruise missiles and destroyed Shahed and Samad drones. Al-Maliki explained that the Coalition had focused on neutralizing the Houthi militia's capabilities, which it uses to threaten the Kingdom, Yemen, the southern Red Sea, and its waterways. He emphasized that the Coalition remains committed to international humanitarian law and takes civilian safety and security into account when planning its operations. The spokesperson stated that the Saudi armed forces had acquired highly advanced combat systems characterized by exceptional readiness and capabilities. The terrorist militias had attempted to target dozens of ports, airports, and oil facilities in the Kingdom. He noted that the Houthis had carried out 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport since the beginning of October. He also highlighted Houthi attempts to target Makkah and Madinah, describing their efforts to strike the Two Holy Mosques as heinous and brutal. Al-Maliki stressed that the Houthis were threatening civil aviation and placing civilian lives at risk. Outlining the human toll of their attacks, he revealed that the Houthi attack on King Khalid International Airport had resulted in 17 deaths and 333 injuries, while the attack on Abha Airport had claimed three lives and injured 28 people. He further disclosed that 1,104 missiles and 1,135 drones had been launched at the Kingdom since the start of the operations.“These brutal terrorist attacks, including the one that occurred during peak hours, do not only target the Kingdom's airports, but also threaten the safety of travelers, including citizens and pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques from all corners of the earth,” he said.Al-Maliki pointed out that the Houthis had acquired advanced technologies with the assistance of regional parties, making them the first terrorist group to possess ballistic missiles, attack and suicide drones, and booby-trapped speedboats. He affirmed that the Houthi militias were threatening freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and had established mountain storage facilities concentrated in Sanaa, Saada, and Amran, from where terrorist attacks were launched against Yemen and neighboring countries. “The Coalition was working to dismantle this terrorist network and eliminate its experts and operators by destroying mountain storage facilities and fixed and mobile launch platforms, supported by a round-the-clock intelligence system,” he said. Al-Maliki strongly condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Kingdom, including the Riyadh airport. He reaffirmed that the Coalition would continue its operations to deter the Houthi terrorist militias, reiterating its support for the legitimate government and the Yemeni armed forces. The spokesperson called on the Houthis to immediately cease all terrorist operations targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. During the press conference, Al-Maliki displayed footage of strikes targeting tunnels, weapons depots and missile launchers in Sanaa and Saada, including ballistic missile storage facilities in the mountains surrounding the Yemeni capital. He showed videos of operations targeting Houthi ballistic missile launch experts.The Coalition spokesperson also displayed images of cruise missiles used in attacks on King Khalid International Airport, alongside footage documenting strikes on Saudi airports.