UAE leads global condemnation

jeddah — The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Friday denounced Iran for its support to Houthi militia who launched a missile towards Makkah, Islam’s holiest city.

Saudi Arabia’s senior scholars council said in a statement that targeting the two Holy Mosques is a great crime and a new proof of the “Safawis” (Iranian) ambitions and plans to establish the Houthis in Yemen, the Arab News reported.

UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on his twitter account: “The Iranian regime backs a terrorist group which targets Holy Makkah, is this an Islamic regime as it claims? ”GCC head Abdullatif Al Zayani said in a statement: “The council considers this brutal assault, which violates that sanctity of this country, a provocation to the feelings of Muslims, and disregard for Islamic holy sites, and evidence of the Houthis’ refusal to obey the will of the international

community and its decisions, to apply an existing armistice, and tireless efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Yemen.”

The Arab News said Bahrain also condemned the Houthi action, saying that this act is a provocation to all Muslims in the world.

“Targeting Makkah is not only a violation of all international covenants, but its the biggest crime ever,” Bahrain Foreign Minister Khaled bin Ahmad Al Khalifah said.

Coalition spokesman BrigGen. Ahmad Al Assiri said: “Targeting the holiest place on the earth with a ballistic missile last night reveals the fake slogans of Houthi militias.”

Al Assiri reiterated the coalition’s preparedness to deal with Houthi aggression and “will cut the snake’s head” and defeat this terrorist militia.

He confirmed the missile, which was shot down 65km from Makkah, was a Scud. Iranian and Hezbollah individuals had trained the Houthi militia on how to use these missiles, he charged.

Qatar denounced the attempt to attack Makkah. “This is an outrageous aggression against the sanctity of the holiest Islamic shrine and a provocation to the religious sentiments of millions of Muslims around the world,” the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement.

It reiterated support to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to ensure regional security and stability and its efforts to achieve peace in Yemen in accordance with UN resolution 2216, the GCC initiative and the Yemeni national dialogue.

European and Asian diplomats in Saudi Arabia also condemned the targeted attack.