Saudi Arabia's Cabinet on Tuesday welcomed a UN Security Council statement condemning Houthi attacks on the kingdom's civilian infrastructure and threats to Red Sea shipping, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported, via Arab News. The Cabinet, chaired by King Salman in Riyadh, welcomed the presidential statement issued by Security Council members condemning Houthi attacks on civilian facilities, airports and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, as well as continuing threats to maritime navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, according to SPA. Media Minister Salman al-Dossary said the Cabinet also discussed the kingdom's efforts to limit the impact of regional conflicts on global energy security, international trade, supply chains and maritime navigation, SPA reported.

The Security Council statement itself, issued last week, 'condemned in the strongest terms continued and escalatory Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia', including what it called reckless strikes targeting King Khalid International Airport on October 10 and 11 that resulted in deaths and injuries, and multiple strikes on other airports and Saudi Aramco facilities, WE News English reported, citing SPA. Council members affirmed 'the inherent right of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of self-defense in accordance with international law', underscored the importance of fully implementing Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 and subsequent resolutions, and called for practical cooperation, including with Yemen's government, to prevent the Houthis from obtaining weapons, related materiel, technical assistance, training or financing, the report said.

The Cabinet stressed that protecting energy security, trade, supply chains and navigation is 'a shared responsibility that requires international cooperation', and warned that instability could expose the global economy to risks that affect the entire world, The Gulf Weekly reported, summarising SPA. Ministers also reviewed regional and international developments and Saudi Arabia's diplomatic efforts, through consultations with regional and international partners, to promote stability, the reports said.

The stakes reach far beyond Riyadh. The Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb route carries a large share of world oil and container trade, and the Gulf states are home to lakhs of Indian and Punjabi workers whose jobs, flights and remittances are directly exposed when airports and energy sites come under attack — the same escalation that this month forced Saudi Arabia to postpone its 'Davos in the Desert' investment conference to 2027 and prompted Riyadh offices to work from home, as Awaaz Punjab reported earlier on Tuesday. Saudi Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Rayed Krimly has said Riyadh believes the Houthi escalation is encouraged by Iran — a Saudi official's claim, reported as such; the Houthis are described by the Security Council and Saudi Arabia as an Iran-backed militia.

Sources: Saudi Press Agency (SPA) via Arab News, 'Saudi cabinet: Energy security a shared international responsibility', 20 October 2026; The Gulf Weekly, 'Saudi Arabia hails UNSC call to block arms supplies to Houthis', 20 October 2026; WE News English, 'Saudi Arabia Welcomes UN Security Council's Condemnation of Houthi Attacks', October 2026, reporting the Security Council presidential statement and SPA.