Houthi rebel attacks on residential neighbourhoods and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia are an attack on the global economy, Saudi Arabia's Cabinet said on Tuesday night.
The Iran-backed Yemeni group launched drones and missiles at the heart of the Saudi oil industry on Sunday, including a Saudi Aramco facility at Ras Tanura vital to petroleum exports.
Riyadh said there were no casualties or loss of property in the attacks.
The incidents came amid a surge in drone and missile attacks being launched at the kingdom by the Yemen rebels.
In the US, the White House described the escalation as alarming.
The Saudi Arabian Cabinet described the attacks as "terrorist attempts" in breach of international law.
Saudi Arabia responded with measures to protect its national assets, "in a way that preserves global energy security and stops terrorist attacks", state-run SPA press agency said.
The measures aimed to ensure "the stability of energy supplies, the security of petroleum exports, and the security of maritime traffic and global trade", it reported.
The Cabinet also noted a message carried by the kingdom's permanent delegation to the UN Security Council, which asked the international community to assume its responsibility regarding the hostilities by the Iran-aligned Houthis and to hold those responsible accountable.
Saudi Arabia's UN ambassador, Abdulaziz Al Wasil, told the Security Council that Iran was ultimately responsible for the recent increase in attacks and that the world needs to take action.
"This policy pursued by Iran is not only a violation of international laws, but it also exposes the region to danger, destruction, wars and conflicts," Mr Al Wasil said on Tuesday.
The recent attacks are being linked to the fierce fighting in Yemen's Marib province, where pro-government tribal fighters are trying to hold the line against a major Houthi assault.
The Saudi-led coalition has carried out dozens of air strikes to support pro-government forces.
Coalition spokesman Brig Gen Turki Al Malki said on Tuesday that its forces will continue to support the Yemeni army in the battle, despite the attacks on the kingdom.
The air support helped Yemeni forces take back several key positions in north-west Marib on Monday.
Brig Gen Malki travelled to Yemen's Marib on Tuesday where he met the Governor of the internationally recognised government's last northern stronghold.
Also on Tuesday, Commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force Lt Gen Turki bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz met with US Air Forces Central Commander Lt Gen Gregory Guillot.
Attacks on Saudi Arabia – in pictures
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT
2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals
2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals
2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
