TUNIS — The Tunis-based General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers Council (AIMC) strongly condemned and denounced the cowardly terrorist attack carried out by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia on Thursday, targeting Abha International Airport with a booby-trapped drone, which was successfully intercepted and destroyed by the coalition forces supporting the legitimacy in Yemen.

In a statement, the AIMC General Secretariat described the incident as a terrorist act, representing a violation of international law, a war crime that requires accountability, and clear evidence for the persistence by the Houthi militia supported by external parties in its transgressions and hostile approach. It cited the Houthis’ continuing refusal to respond to calls for peace and efforts to reach a political solution to the Yemeni crisis.

The statement reiterated its full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and vowed absolute support for all the measures it takes to repel these terrorist attacks, defend its security and protect its facilities, its civilian installations and citizens and residents.

It also commended the roles being played by the Saudi Air Forces and the Coalition Forces to support legitimacy in Yemen in confronting these threats and addressing all attempts aimed at Saudi Arabia's territory seeking to undermine the security and stability of the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Bahrain condemned the attempted attack by the Iranian-backed militia against Abha International Airport with a drone.

In a statement following the incident, the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Manama's solidarity with Riyadh and its full support for all that preserves its security and stability.

The Ministry praised the efficiency of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, citing its ability to intercept and destroy the drone.

On Thursday, Kuwait and The United Arab Emirates condemned strongly the continued attempts by the Houthi militia to threaten the security of Saudi Arabia, by targeting the Abha airport with a UAV.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the continuation of these aggressive practices targeting civilians, civilian areas, the security of the Kingdom and the stability of the region constitutes a flagrant violation of the rules of international and humanitarian law, and requires the international community to move quickly and decisively to deter these threats and hold the perpetrators accountable.

It affirmed Kuwait's full support for Saudi Arabia, in all the measures it takes to preserve its security, stability and sovereignty.

A statement issued by the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the UAE considered that Houthi attempt to target the airport as a dangerous and cowardly escalation that threatens the security, safety and lives of civilians and passengers.

It also described the attempt as a war crime that requires taking all necessary measures to protect civilians from Houthi threats.

The Ministry affirmed the full solidarity of the UAE with the Kingdom against these terrorist attacks and every threat to its security and stability.

The statement stressed the support of the UAE for all the measures the Kingdom takes to preserve its security and the safety of its citizens and residents on its territory.

Earlier Thursday, the Arab coalition said it had destroyed a Houthi drone targeting Abha International Airport.

Shrapnel was scattered around the airport as a result but no casualties were reported. — SG/SPA