King Salman denounces Iran’s ‘terrorist’ acts

CAIRO – 15 April 2018: King Salman of Saudi Arabia expressed his strong condemnation to the ‘Iranian-allied’ Houthi militants’ attacks on different cities of Saudi Arabia, during his speech in the 29th Arab League summit which kicked off Sunday in Dhahran.

“Terrorism is the biggest challenge to our world today,” King Salman said, “Saudi Arabia renews its strong condemnation of the Iranian ‘terrorist’ acts [that took place] in the Arab region.”

King Salman also affirmed his country’s rejection of the intervention in the domestic affairs of the Arab countries and the “hostile” attempts to destabilize Arab national security, violating international law.

Saudi Arabia welcomes the United Nations’ statement that denounced the launching of ‘Iranian-made’ ballistic missiles by Houthi militants to hit Saudi cities, King Salman said. Up to 119 missiles were launched by Houthi militants, where some of them targeted the holy city of Mecca,” Salman added.



Concerning the Yemeni war, King Salman said that Saudi Arabia holds the “terrorist Iranian-allied” Houthi militants fully responsible for the continuous war in Yemen and the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened against the Houthis in Yemen’s war in 2015 to restore the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The United Nations says 10,000 people died in the fighting.

King Salman affirmed his commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence and the territorial integrity of Yemen, affirming his country’s support to the efforts aiming at finding a diplomatic solution to the Yemeni crisis, according to the Gulf initiative and the decisions of the National Dialogue Conference 2216.

King Salman called on the international community to support the delivery of humanitarian aid to different parts in Yemen.

King Salman said that the Palestinian issue will remain the most important issue to the Arab World, until all Palestinians have attained their legal rights, including the establishment of a Palestinian independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

“We renew our condemnation to the U.S. administration’s decision concerning Jerusalem,” King Salman stated. In December 2017, Trump reversed decades of U.S. policy by announcing the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the move of its embassy to Jerusalem.

Concerning Libya, King Salman affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to backing legitimate state institutions, and efforts aiming at preserving the unity of Libya, preventing any foreign intervention in its domestic affairs and securing the country from terrorism and violence.

The 29th Arab League summit kicked off Sunday at King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, commonly known as “Ithra” in Dhahran.

UN General Assembly Secretary-General António Guterres, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki, and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini are among the attendees.