Saudi Arabia and Bahrain condemn Houthi attack on Yemen military base

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Monday condemned the attack on Yemen’s military base in the southern province of Lahij that resulted in the deaths of at least 30 pro-government soldiers and injured scores more.

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked Al Anad military base with several drones and ballistic missiles.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia renews its stand and solidarity with Yemen and calls for an end to the continued flow of weapons to the terrorist Houthi militia, preventing their export to Yemen, and ensuring that they do not violate any UN resolution,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Bahrain on Monday also condemned the attacks.

In a statement, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry confirmed its “solidarity with Yemen in its efforts to restore legitimacy and liberate the Yemeni governorates from the Houthis”.

It described the act as a “heinous attack perpetrated by the terrorist Houthi group which contradicts all moral, humanitarian values ​​and principles and seeks to destabilise security and stability in the region”.

The ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, the government and the Yemeni people.

Yemeni President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi expressed condolences for the dead and vowed that the “Houthis will pay heavily for all the crimes they have committed against the people of Yemen”, the state news agency Saba reported.

Mr Hadi said that “vigorous and vigilant efforts must be applied to deter any further hostile actions by the Houthis in order to achieve victory and to alleviate the humanitarian suffering caused by the Houthis”.

The Yemeni leader called for unity against the rebels.

“Those in support of a Yemeni republic must direct their efforts towards this enemy,” he said.

"Those who predict they are spared from the rebels' death project are mistaken.”

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry said it considered the attack as “further evidence of the bloodthirsty and aggressive nature of Houthi rebels”.

The ministry called on the UN and international community to “categorically denounce this heinous action”.

It also commended the “sacrifices made by our heroic armed forces in trying to help restore security and stability in Yemen and in their fight against the malign Iranian project with the Houthis being used as tools”.

The attack was also condemned by the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation.

The latest developments took place not long after the Saudi-led Coalition intercepted a missile fired towards the southern city of Jazan.

The kingdom's air defences intercepted and destroyed two drones launched by the rebels towards Khamis Mushait on Sunday night.

Yemen's civil war started in 2014 when the Houthis invaded Sanaa and forced Mr Hadi's government to flee.

Tens of thousands of people have died in the war, which has created what the UN has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The coalition intervened in the war in March 2015 at the government's request.