Arab and global condemnation after Houthi attack on Saudi ship in Red Sea

Arab, regional, and international condemnations mounted on Thursday following a Houthi militia attack on a vessel owned by a Saudi company as it sailed in the Red Sea. Officials said the assault constituted a violation of international law and a threat to maritime security and global energy supplies. Official statements came from Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, Pakistan, and the European Union, while US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attack, describing the Houthis as its “proxy or representative.”

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement strongly condemning the attack, calling it “a serious violation of international maritime safety, a direct threat to global energy security, and a clear breach of international law.” The statement warned that “continued unacceptable attacks represent a dangerous escalation threatening regional security and stability and efforts to consolidate peace.” Qatar urged the international community to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2216 on Yemen and Resolution 2722 on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The ministry stressed that “freedom of navigation in international waterways is a fundamental principle of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.” Doha reiterated its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, affirming that the Kingdom’s security “is an integral part of the security of Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council states.”

Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement published by the Kuwait News Agency, also condemned and denounced the attack, describing it as “a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to maritime security, international trade, and energy supplies.” Kuwait expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty and security, calling for an immediate halt to such attacks and adherence to international law guaranteeing freedom of navigation and safe passage in international waterways.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned “the heinous terrorist attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militia” targeting a Saudi company vessel in the Red Sea, which caused a fire at the ship’s bow but no injuries. Manama said the attack was “a flagrant violation of international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and a serious threat to maritime security, international trade, and energy supplies.” Bahrain reaffirmed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and called on the international community, especially the Security Council, to take firm action to protect maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab, and other vital waterways, and to hold those responsible accountable.

The Yemeni government also “strongly condemned” the attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which targeted a Saudi company vessel and caused a fire at its bow with no injuries. The government said the Houthis’ open adoption of attacks on civilian ships and global energy supplies “reaffirms the terrorist nature of these militias and their insistence on threatening regional and international security, gambling with Yemen’s resources, and worsening the humanitarian crisis.”

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss regional developments and de-escalation efforts, as well as Pakistan’s support for Saudi security following the attack.

Sharif began the call by condemning the Houthi attack on the Saudi vessel, describing it as a threat to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty and rejected any acts targeting the Kingdom or threatening regional stability and international shipping lanes. The two leaders also discussed the latest regional developments and efforts to reduce tensions and enhance security and stability.

In the United States, President Donald Trump held Iran responsible for the attack, stating that the Houthis are “a group affiliated with or acting as a proxy for Iran.” Writing on Truth Social, he said: “Iran will face severe military punishment, as will the Houthis themselves.” He added: “I am very disappointed in the Houthis, because until now they had acted professionally and intelligently.”

Trump added that the US had launched an attack on the Houthis a year ago in response to their targeting of trade and shipping, and that the group “has now resumed, after firing last night on a Saudi ship.” He stressed that the US would hold Iran responsible if such incidents were repeated.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Iran-backed Houthi attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea was “unacceptable and illegal, and further inflames an already tense situation in the region.”

Kallas called on the Houthis to “cease” attacks on ships in the Red Sea and halt all activities endangering international navigation and the lives of seafarers. She said recent threats to impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia “pose a direct threat to regional stability and represent a dangerous escalation.”