Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi expressed his condemnation and denunciation in the strongest terms of the statements issued by the military spokesperson of the Houthi group, including the false allegations made against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and groundless accusations, in a desperate and exposed attempt to distort facts and evade responsibility for the practices pursued by the group, which have contributed to deepening the suffering of the Yemeni people and threatening regional security and stability.
"These irresponsible statements will not alter established facts, foremost among which are the sincere efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the Yemeni people, contribute to achieving security and stability, advance the path toward a political solution, and provide humanitarian and relief aid, driven by its responsibility toward Yemen and its people," the secretary general stressed, SPA reported.
Albudaiwi further added: "The security of maritime navigation and the freedom of international trade represent a fundamental pillar for regional and international security and stability, and any attempts to target international waterways constitute an explicit violation of international law, the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and relevant UN Security Council resolutions."
Furthermore, the secretary general called on the international community to take a firm stance against these false Houthi allegations and threats, and to work on implementing Security Council resolutions to ensure the protection of maritime navigation and prevent any practices that endanger the security of international maritime lanes.
Albudaiwi concluded his statement by reiterating the GCC's full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its support for all measures it takes to protect its security and sovereignty and safeguard its interests.