October 8, 2026
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its firm position in support of legitimacy in Yemen, stressing the necessity of ending the control of the Houthi group and restoring state institutions, in a decisive message amid the continuing escalation witnessed in the region.
This came during the Cabinet session held under the chairmanship of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the Council condemned the Houthi group’s choice of military escalation instead of the peace path, which contributed to deepening the humanitarian and economic suffering, as well as undermining the security of the region and threatening international shipping traffic in the southern Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Council affirmed the Kingdom’s full support for the Presidential Command Council, the legitimate government, and the Yemeni people in their efforts to end the coup.
In a related context, the Council of Ministers appreciated the outcomes of the emergency meeting of the Political and Defense Strategic Committee of the “Mecca Defense Alliance,” and the resulting affirmation of solidarity and standing together in the face of the attacks that targeted the Kingdom’s lands, including Mecca, Medina, and civil and economic facilities. The Council explained that the meeting approved the activation of the principle of collective deterrence and the transition to the practical implementation of joint defense obligations to enhance military readiness and integration.
At the Arab and regional levels, the Crown Prince informed the Council members of the results of his meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa in Riyadh, which discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation and discussed the most prominent regional developments.
The Council discussed the annual royal speech of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, at the opening of the third year of the ninth session of the Shura Council, praising the highlighting of the constants of Saudi policy, the achievements of “Saudi Vision 2030” and the developmental and economic reforms.
Regarding economic matters, the Council considered that the preliminary estimates of the general budget for the next fiscal year reflect the strength of the Saudi economy and its ability to adapt to global changes, while continuing to spend on services, development and social priorities and ensuring financial sustainability.
At the local and international levels, the Council praised the results of the events and conferences recently hosted by the Kingdom, most notably the International Forum for Social Responsibility, noting the Kingdom’s participation in celebrating World Teachers’ Day and in appreciation of its vital role in preparing generations and supporting the process of scientific and cognitive excellence.
These positions, which coincide with an interwoven regional escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea, reflect Riyadh’s orientation towards strengthening deterrence and joint defense systems, in parallel with an active diplomatic movement covering the Syrian files and the region.
