Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan has urged Saudi and coalition forces to remain united and vigilant amid intensified Houthi missile and drone attacks.
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan has urged Saudi and coalition forces stationed on the front lines to remain united, patient and steadfast as Houthi attacks against the kingdom intensify.
In a statement addressed to frontline personnel, Al-Fawzan, who also chairs Saudi Arabia’s Council of Senior Scholars, called on soldiers to remain prepared, follow the instructions of their commanders and carry out their duties with discipline.
He emphasized the importance of protecting Saudi territory and praised the role of troops responsible for defending the kingdom and its people. Saudi Gazette reported that the Grand Mufti urged coalition forces and Saudi soldiers to stand united in repelling Houthi attacks.
His remarks came amid a sharp escalation in cross-border attacks. On Thursday, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Saudi Arabia, with the missiles headed in the direction of Taif and the strategic port city of Yanbu.
The latest attacks have also intensified attention on regional defence coordination involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye. The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement on Aug. 7, which states that an armed attack against any one of the three states shall be regarded as an attack against them all.
The agreement provides for expanded defence cooperation and collective deterrence. Its strategic committee, comprising foreign and defence ministers as well as military chiefs from the three countries, held its inaugural meeting in Istanbul on Aug. 31. The participating governments agreed to further institutionalize cooperation under the pact.
The renewed Houthi attacks have given the agreement an immediate regional security context. Saudi Arabia has faced missile and drone threats targeting areas within its territory, including strategically important locations.
The Grand Mufti urged frontline personnel to maintain patience, perseverance and vigilance while carrying out their responsibilities. His statement comes as fighting and cross-border attacks continue to raise concerns over security in the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea.
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