RIYADH: France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot has strongly condemned Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia while expressing solidarity with the Kingdom.
The French foreign minister made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and their existing partnership across various fields, as well as ways to further strengthen them to serve mutual interests and support the aspirations of both friendly nations.
#الرياض | سمو وزير الخارجية الأمير #فيصل_بن_فرحان @FaisalbinFarhan يستقبل معالي وزير أوروبا والشؤون الخارجية في الجمهورية الفرنسية السيد جان نويل بارو، ويبحثان العلاقات الثنائية والتطورات الإقليمية.
https://t.co/4YiNGsS6Hb https://t.co/W8gbmfJb6A— وزارة الخارجية 🇸🇦 (@KSAMOFA) October 19, 2026
The two sides also discussed regional developments and efforts to mitigate the repercussions of events in the region.
Furthermore, the two sides addressed the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure the security and safety of regional waterways and freedom of navigation.
They also discussed supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at reaching comprehensive and sustainable solutions to current regional crises, thereby contributing to the consolidation of security and stability in the region.
UN Security Council Statement
Members of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned the ongoing and escalating Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including attacks targeting civil aviation and energy infrastructure that resulted in civilian deaths and injuries.
According to a statement issued by the UN Security Council president, these included “reckless strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport” on October 10 and 11, which resulted in deaths and injuries, as well as multiple strikes targeting other airports and Saudi Aramco facilities.
Security Council members expressed their sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Saudi Arabia, and wished those injured a speedy recovery, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
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They reiterated their strongest condemnation of continued Houthi attacks and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, stressing the importance of ensuring the safety of commercial vessels and their crews.
They underscored the importance of fully implementing Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 and subsequent resolutions.
Security Council members expressed their solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the face of attacks targeting civilians and civilian objects on its territory, affirming its inherent right to self-defence in accordance with international law.
