PH Condemns Latest Ballistic Missile Attack vs Saudi Arabia

26 March 2018 — The Philippines today strongly condemned the latest ballistic missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, which left one person dead and two others wounded.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said no Filipinos were reported among the casualties after Houthi rebels in Yemen fired seven ballistic missiles towards Riyadh and several other areas in Saudi Arabia late Sunday evening.

“The Philippines strongly condemns the latest missile attacks against Saudi Arabia,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano said in a statement.

“These attacks targeting Riyadh and other heavily populated areas are a violation of international law and must stop,” Secretary Cayetano said.

The Secretary also lauded the Kingdom for the successful interception of the missiles, saying this saved the lives of many Saudi citizens as well as foreign nationals, including the close to 1 million Filipinos working there.

Ambassador to Riyadh Adnan Alonto said three missiles were launched towards Riyadh: one towards Khalid Mushait; one towards Narjan; and two towards Jizan. All were intercepted and destroyed by Saudi air defense systems.

Ambassador Alonto said an Egyptian national was killed and two others were injured when missile fragments fell on their house in Riyadh.

He said the Embassy and the Consulate General in Jeddah continue to monitor the situation. They have not also received any report of Filipinos having been affected by the attacks.

“We request our kababayans to remain calm but vigilant and to immediately report to the Embassy or Consulate General any Filipinos who may have been affected by the attacks,” Ambassador Alonto said.

Ambassador Alonto said Sunday’s missile attack was the third targeting Riyadh in the past four months. In November, Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile towards the Riyadh International Airport and another also towards Riyadh in December. He said both missiles were intercepted and destroyed.

The latest attack took place on the third anniversary of the conflict between Houthi rebels who are in control of most of Yemen and a Saudi-led military coalition supporting the internationally recognized government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. END