ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned a missile and drone attack at Saudi energy and water desalination facilities by the Houthi group, the Foreign Office said.
Drone strikes hit a petroleum products distribution terminal in the southern Jizan region, a natural gas plant and the Yasref refinery in the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia said in a statement.
“The assault on Yasref facilities has led to a temporary reduction in the refinery’s production, which will be compensated for from the inventory,” it said, referring to Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec).
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group fired ballistic and winged missiles as well as drones at Aramco facilities in the capital Riyadh, Yanbu and “other areas,” followed by attacks on “vital targets” in other Saudi regions.
“Pakistan reaffirms its full support and solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any threats to its security and territorial integrity,” a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press statement.
The statement said such attacks not only violated international laws but also threatened the peace and security of the oil-rich kingdom and the region.
Pakistan also called for an immediate cessation of these attacks.
“The successful interception of the ballistic missile by the Royal Saudi Air Defense Force prevented loss of innocent lives and is commendable.”
Saudi Arabia has struggled to extricate itself from the seven-year conflict which has killed tens of thousands and left millions of Yemenis facing starvation. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia have also endangered the kingdom’s airports, oil facilities and caused some civilian deaths.
United Nations special envoy Hans Grundberg is discussing a possible truce during the holy month of Ramadan which starts in April, his office said on Sunday. It was unclear if both sides had agreed on the UN plans.
— With input from Reuters
