India reiterates freedom of navigation and regional security amid escalating West Asia Conflict
New Delhi: India has once again raised alarms over the escalation in the security crisis across the Red Sea and strongly condemned the Houthi strikes targeting Saudi Arabian territory. India criticised the attacks on the civilians and economic assets, During a bi-weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on September 18, Friday registered India’s concerns, noting that the ongoing attacks undermine regional security while threatening the freedom of navigation in key international maritime routes such as the Bab al-Mandeb.
Terming the ongoing escalation in hostilities as “totally unacceptable”, the MEA spokesperson expressed hopes for early restoration of peace in the war-torn region. “We are deeply concerned about the escalation in the security situation in the Red Sea area. We have expressed our condemnation of the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, including on civilians and economic assets. You would have also seen a statement which we issued following the attempted attack on the holy city of Makkah”, he said.
“Such attacks vitiate regional security, impact or undermine regional peace and security and also threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab al-Mandab. For various reasons, this is totally unacceptable to us. We hope that there is an early restoration of peace and stability in the region”, he further added.
This comes against the backdrop of the simmering conflict in West Asia, with fighting intensifying in Yemen as Houthi rebels advance towards Saudi-backed government-held area, while Saudi Arabia faces growing pressure to respond.
On September 16, Wednesday, the United States placed Saudi Arabia under a Level 3 “Reconsider travel” advisory and issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” warning for the Yemen border, citing risks from Iranian drone and missile “attacks”, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans and local laws concerning social media activity.
The development comes as the Saudi air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthis in the south of the holy city of Makkah Al-Mukarramah, popularly known as Mecca.
However, Yemen’s Houthi movement rejected Saudi Arabia’s claim that the group launched a drone towards the holy city of Mecca, calling the allegation “fabrications and lies” and asserting that its operations target Saudi military and oil facilities away from Islamic holy sites.
In a statement posted on Telegram, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree called out the Al Saud regime of Saudi Arabia, calling the attempt a deception, while denying that the rebel group posed a threat to the holy sites. Saree said Houthi operations were directed at “its oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites”.
The statement came after the Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on September 15, Tuesday evening before it entered the prohibited airspace around the holy city. Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki described the incident as a “hostile and terrorist act” and said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line”.
(With Inputs from ANI)
