Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 21/01/2018
The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on 21 January 2018, at the OIC Jeddah-based General Secretariat, convened an extraordinary session, upon request from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to address the ballistic missile attack by the Houthi militias on Riyadh.
Chairing the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Mr. Adel Al-Jubeir explained that the meeting’s purpose was to take an urgent action regarding the Iran-made ballistic missile fired by Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militias toward Riyadh. The more so, Mr. Al-Jubeir explained, because not only is this attack in violation of the provisions of the charters of both the OIC and the UN, but it also constitutes an affront to the principles of international laws and resolutions, particularly UNSC resolution 2216.
He added, “The Iranian regime continues to smuggle arms and missiles to Houthi militias in Yemen to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, harm its people and damage its vital interests.” Over 300 Iran-made ballistic missiles were fired from Yemen, 90 of which aimed at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the worst attack having targeted Makkah, the holy city and cradle of Islam, Mr. Al-Jubeir pointed out, asserting that this presents yet another proof that the Iranian regime is persisting in its course of aggression, supporting terrorism and egregiously meddling in the region’s affairs.
Also speaking at the meeting was the Secretary General of the OIC, Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen. He started by commending the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, along with Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mohamed bin Salman, for hosting this extraordinary session. He went on to call on the meeting to take firm, deterrent action beyond condemnation and denunciation, to ensure that no such outrageous aggression perpetrated by the Houthi militias recur, and to push back those who back them, send monies, provide media coverage and help with weapons supply, manufacturing and smuggling.
He further recalled, “In its Makkah Al Mukarramah extraordinary session, following the ballistic missile attack on the Holy City in November 2016, the Council of Foreign Ministers decided that measures should be in place to keep such attacks from happening in the future, calling on the Member States and the international community to take firm and effective steps to ensure that such acts of aggression are not repeated, and to hold to account all those who smuggle these arms in Yemen and supply expertise to the terrorist Houthi group.” He went on, “the Makkah Al Mukarramah extraordinary session also warned that aggression on the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is harmful to the security and unity of the entire Muslim world.”
In his statement at the Jeddah meeting, Al-Othaimeen underlined that the OIC stands in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in every measure it takes, in keeping with the OIC and UN charters, to preserve its security and stability.
Addressed by this meeting was the threat the Houthi attacks on Yemen ports pose to marine navigation in the Red Sea, coupled with the countless acts of killing, detention, forced disappearance and sectarian strife carried out by this militia against Yemeni citizens. The Council also warned that to fuel their war machine, Houthi militias continue to hinder delivery of international relief aid, withholding it and selling it on the black market. This certainly is a matter of grave concern, the Council stressed, calling for firm action to be taken against these coup militias and their allies, to save the Yemeni people and land, and to shield Yemen’s neighboring countries from such acts of brazen aggression and violation of the principles of peace and togetherness recognized in the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Related: Yemen
