"OIC": Houthi attack on Mecca is terrorism that warrants deterrence of its perpetrators
Amman2 min read
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The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) considered the Houthi attacks on Mecca and the Medina region as 'terrorism' that affects holy sites, mosques, and civilian landmarks, and warrants 'deterrence' of its perpetrators.
It said in a statement that it "condemns the heinous attacks launched by the Houthi group on the city of Mecca and the Medina region, and the continuation of its aggression against the Kingdom, and what these attacks entail in terrorizing the innocent, violating the sanctity of holy sites and mosques, and provoking the feelings of Muslims around the world".
The statement added that "the acts committed by the terrorist Houthi militia that affect holy sites, mosques, and civilian landmarks constitute terrorism that is incompatible with Islamic values, customs, principles, and international laws".
It stressed that "violating the sanctity of holy sites is an unacceptable and intolerable transgression, and warrants deterring its perpetrators and cutting off the path of anyone who dares to harm them".
The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation expressed its "full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and its support for all measures it takes to deter the terrorism of the aggressors, protect the sanctity of holy sites and the lives of Muslims, and safeguard its security and sovereignty".
It should be noted that the spokesman for the coalition forces, Major General Turki Al-Malki, announced that the Saudi air defenses intercepted and destroyed, on Tuesday evening, a drone launched by the Houthi group south of the city of Mecca, before it entered the city's restricted airspace.
Al-Malki added that "this hostile and terrorist attempt is the second to target Mecca," after a previous attempt to launch a ballistic missile on July 27, 2017.
On July 20 last year, the Houthi group announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, in response to what it claimed was a Saudi naval and air blockade on the areas it controls in Yemen.
Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition to support the Yemeni government in confronting the Houthis, who have been controlling the capital Sanaa and several governorates since September 2014.
