Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has condemned Houthi attacks targeting civilian and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, expressing Pakistan’s “unwavering solidarity” with the Kingdom’s leadership and people.
“I condemn in the strongest terms, the cowardly attack by Houthis targeting civilian and energy facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which have left many people injured,” PM Shehbaz said in a post on X.
“Such dastardly attacks threaten innocent lives as well as regional peace and security,” he added, reaffirming Pakistan’s “steadfast support” for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
He also expressed solidarity with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.
The attacks on Tuesday injured 73 civilians, including women and children, according to Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry.
It said Houthi forces targeted civilian and economic sites in the southern cities of Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran.
Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said fires broke out at the targeted facilities, prompting firefighting and emergency teams to respond and assess the damage.
The Saudi foreign ministry said Riyadh would take “all necessary measures to defend its sovereignty” and called for an immediate halt to Houthi attacks and other forms of escalation.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree had on Monday said that the group would announce a broad operation deep into Saudi territory.
He accused Riyadh of taking “escalatory steps” by conducting airstrikes on Yemen.
This came after the Saudi-led coalition said it would take necessary operational measures against the Houthis, with spokesperson Colonel Turki al-Malki describing the latest escalation as dangerous.
