Initial Operational Evidences and Indications of the Terrorist Targeting of Oil Facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais Confirm that the Weapons Used are Iranian, Reports Spokesman for Coalition Forces

Saudi Press Agency

Monday 1441/1/17 - 2019/09/16

Riyadh, Sep. 16, 2019, SPA -- Spokesman of Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Colonel Turki Al-Malki, confirmed that all operational evidences and indication as well as the weapons used in the large terrorist attacks that targeted the global energy supplies and global economic security at the oil facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, confirm that the weapons used in the attacks are Iranian weapons, indicating that his department is working to complete these investigations, with all the results to be announced later.

Colonel Al-Maliki said during the regular press conference of the Joint Coalition Forces Command in Riyadh today that "the terrorist attack was not launched from Yemeni territory as the Houthi militias claimed, whereas these militias are mere tools to implement the agenda of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and its terrorist regime."

Commenting on the report of experts issued on the 3rd of September on the situation of human rights in Yemen, Al-Maliki pointed out that the command of the Joint Coalition Forces Command confirms its rejection of the fallacies it contains, citing a statement as well as a report issued by the coalition last year in addition to a legal response submitted at the Human Rights Council at the time.

The methodology used in the report does not rely on correct information in dealing with the data as well as the humanitarian situation in Yemen he said, adding that "we are committed to apply the international humanitarian law. On the other hand, we are also committed to announce with utmost transparency all reported incidents, whether accidental or monitored by the Joint Command through its executive units. This proves the commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as all the Coalition member countries to apply international and humanitarian law.

The spokesman for the coalition forces said that the Iranian-backed terrorist Houthi militias are still trying to use qualitative weapons, be them ballistic missiles or drones as was witnessed in the recent attacks. He recalled that there have been continuous attempts to target civilian objects and airports including Abha International Airport, Jizan and Najran with a number of drones during the past period.

Colonel Al-Maliki reviewed the position of operations to restore hope to support the legitimacy inside Yemen, including Houthi violations and threats to regional and international security, in addition to targeting Houthi capabilities in Yemen.

He also discussed recent statistics and data on humanitarian operations in Yemen and what is being done by the Saudi program for the reconstruction of Yemen and the King Salman Center for Humanitarian Operations, pointing out the continuation of land, sea and air relief outlets according to the UNVIM report in Djibouti.

Regarding the statistics on violations by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist militias of the Stockholm agreement, Colonel al-Maliki said that they amounted to 7316 violations.

-- SPA
21:53 LOCAL TIME 18:53 GMT
0036