Singapore condemns attacks on Saudi Arabia, urges all parties to exercise restraint: MFA

Singapore has strongly condemned recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, including assaults on energy infrastructure and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Sunday, July 26. In its remarks, the MFA emphasized the importance of respecting navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law, specifically referencing the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It also stressed the need to ensure the safety of seafarers and ships in compliance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The MFA called upon all parties involved to exercise restraint and avoid actions that might exacerbate existing tensions. This appeal follows a series of escalating incidents involving Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. On Sunday, the Houthi group claimed responsibility for shooting down a Saudi drone over the northwest region of Yemen. This occurred just one day after the group reportedly launched attacks on oil facilities within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The conflict escalated further when the Houthi rebels announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia in response to alleged Saudi attacks on Houthi-controlled infrastructure, such as airports and ports. This declaration came amid increased hostilities, including Houthi missile strikes on Saudi Arabia's Abha International Airport, following an attack on Yemen's rebel-held Sanaa airport. The ongoing conflict dates back more than a decade, when Saudi Arabia initiated an Arab coalition to combat the Houthi rebels who had captured Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The Yemeni civil war, marked by extensive loss of life due to both warfare and famine, had been temporarily halted by a ceasefire agreement established in 2022. However, this truce collapsed in July, with the Houthi rebels seemingly aligning themselves with the broader conflict their Iranian allies have engaged in since being targeted by the United States and Israel. On July 25, the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, confirmed that his group had struck Saudi state oil company Aramco sites located in the cities of Jizan and Yanbu. These locations are critical for Saudi oil operations, particularly given their proximity to the Yemeni border. Two Asia-based trading sources indicated that there might have been damage to fuel and oil storage sites at Jizan. In Yanbu, two missiles aimed at oil installations were successfully intercepted. Yanbu serves as a vital route for Saudi oil shipments that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which has been under Iranian blockade. In response to these developments, the Saudi-led military coalition conducted airstrikes against what it identified as Houthi targets in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah, following an incident in which a Saudi vessel was attacked in the Red Sea. The coalition described these strikes as a "proportionate military response." The coalition spokesperson, Staff Major General Turki al-Malki, referred to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea as a "cowardly and reckless act." According to reports, the Houthi-affiliated al-Masirah television stated that a worker at a telecommunications building in Hodeidah sustained injuries during the Saudi strike. Meanwhile, the Houthi representatives expressed concern over the escalation of violence, stating that the attacks on civilian objects in Hodeidah and the nearby island of Kamaran represent a dangerous intensification of the current situation. The Houthi group, supported by Iran, retaliated by launching an attack on one of Saudi Arabia's ports along the Red Sea. This action followed the Houthi declaration of a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabian ports and attacks on several vessels. The U.S. military, meanwhile, opened fire on a tanker transporting Iranian crude oil in the Strait of Hormuz, attempting to evade American restrictions on Iranian ports. As tensions continue to rise, concerns over threats to maritime traffic in the Red Sea have grown significantly. These worries have contributed to an increase in oil prices beyond $100 per barrel, reaching levels not seen since May. The situation highlights the potential for additional challenges in oil exports through Red Sea ports, while the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed. The United States' President Donald Trump warned that the U.S. would penalize both the Houthi rebels and Iran if they continued to launch attacks on ships in the Red Sea. As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, hoping for de-escalation and adherence to international norms governing maritime conduct.