Saudi Ambassador to Washington: No Limits on What the Houthis Can Do and They Must Be Confronted Internationally

Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United States, Princess Reema bint Bandar, stated that the Houthis deliberately targeted a passenger terminal at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10, resulting in the death of 13 people. She described the attack as a "pure, simple, and evil" act of terrorism, emphasizing the need to confront it as terrorism with the same international resolve that defeated terrorist organizations before.

Princess Reema bint Bandar added, in an article titled "No Limits on What the Houthis Can Do," published by the "New York Times" on Tuesday, that more than 300 people died, were dying, or were injured due to the missile launched by the Houthis at the airport. She recounted that an elderly man, whose hand was torn and bleeding, pleaded saying: "Please, my daughter, help me."

She explained that Abtehaaj bint Abdullah, an employee in passenger services at "Riyadh Air," bandaged the man's wound with a headscarf she found on the floor of the passenger hall, forced open emergency exits, led passengers outside, then returned to help the injured despite her own injuries, and guided paramedics inside the hall.

She said that the Houthis launched a missile to spread terror, but Abtehaaj faced terror with courage and continued her work, confirming that everyone will continue on the same path.

She added that Saudi Arabia witnessed a transformation that allowed young women like Abtehaaj to contribute to shaping their country's future, stressing that they should not be forced to do so under the shadow of terrorism.

Terrorist Network
The Princess Reema bint Bandar pointed out that the Houthi leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, spent two decades building a terrorist network with support from Iran, clarifying that he hides in the mountains and addresses his followers only via video. She added that he violated every peace agreement signed by the Houthis, using ceasefire periods to rearm in preparation for new attacks.

She noted that the Houthi slogan calls for death to America, and that an American citizen was among those who died in the attack on Riyadh airport.

She called for examining the capabilities developed by the Houthis, noting that ISIS attracted global attention when it displayed a single Scud-type missile in the Syrian city of Raqqa in 2014, whereas the Houthis have launched more than 1,000 ballistic missiles and drones towards Saudi Arabia since March 2016.

She said that UN investigators reported that Houthi engineers taught members of the extremist Al-Shabaab movement in East Africa how to manufacture bombs and modify drones.

She added that a US company specializing in artificial intelligence revealed last month that a weapons development cell in northern Yemen, controlled by the Houthis, attempted to use the company's tools to write guidance software for a long-range missile.

Princess Reema bint Bandar confirmed that if the world felt concern over a single Scud-type missile, the existence of a terrorist army that manufactures its own missiles, exports the necessary expertise, and resorts to artificial intelligence to improve their accuracy, should strike terror into the world.

She clarified that the repercussions of the Houthi threat extend far beyond Yemen, as the Houthis threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the southern entrance to the Red Sea, through which about 10% of global trade passes. She added that their attacks on Saudi energy facilities during October contributed to pushing oil prices back above $100 per barrel.

Ambassador Reema bint Bandar said that ISIS was defeated by local forces supported by a coalition comprising more than 80 countries, considering that the Houthis can be defeated in the same way, provided that Yemenis lead this battle.

She added that Saudi Arabia has stood alongside Yemen since 2015, responding to its government's request for assistance after the Houthis seized control of Sanaa, the country's capital. She indicated that the Yemeni people bore the greatest burden of the conflict, confirming that this explains why Saudi Arabia continues to be one of the largest donors of humanitarian aid to Yemen, and the necessity of ending the Houthi aggression.

She noted that Yemeni government forces are currently launching an offensive along the Red Sea coast, and in Al-Jawf and Marib, with Saudi air support, indicating that they have already seized more than 750 tons of weapons destined for the Houthis.

She added that the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen targets missile launch sites and weapons depots, aiming to dismantle the networks responsible for missile attacks on Saudi territory and hold those responsible accountable.

She emphasized the necessity of ending the war economy managed by the Houthis, based on extortion and front companies, noting that efforts to achieve this have already begun, and that Saudi Arabia closed its financial system to the Houthis and all terrorist groups.

She said that Saudi Arabia is working with its partners to apply sanctions and list relevant entities and individuals on designation lists, and supports the Yemeni government in confiscating weapons and funds. She added that the United States classified the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, considering the decision correct, and calling on all countries to take the same step.

Princess Reema bint Bandar stressed that the Houthis adhere to no red lines, and there are no limits to what they can inflict on those they consider enemies. She clarified that they force children, some no older than 10 years, to chant the slogan "Death to America," and send thousands of children to fight, confirming the necessity of stopping radical indoctrination operations.

ISIS-like Organization
Princess Reema bint Bandar added that the Houthis today resemble ISIS before its capture of Mosul in Iraq and declaration of a caliphate, considering that they represent a terrorist movement that the world underestimated. She called on the international community to define a clear goal consisting of ending the Houthis' existence as an "armed terrorist force."

She clarified that achieving this requires classifying the Houthis as a "terrorist organization" in all countries, cutting off their funding sources, preventing weapons from reaching them via sea, and providing the necessary support to the Yemeni government to achieve its goals.

She confirmed that ending the armed activity of the Houthis is the only way to reach a political settlement led by Yemenis, which is the path Saudi Arabia has long supported.

Princess Reema concluded her article by affirming that Abtehaaj bint Abdullah, the employee in passenger services at "Riyadh Air," faced Houthi terrorism with courage, and that Yemenis face it every day, saying: "They deserve a future free of this terrorism."