Saudi Press: Houthi Militia's Continuing Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Saudi Defense Forces Exhibited Great Competence in Countering Terrorist Attacks

Riyadh, March 08, 2021, SPA -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas. Al-Riyadh and Al-Bilad newspapers reported in their editorials that the Saudi Arabia’s wise leadership, since the country's unification by the founder King Abdulaziz, and until this prosperous era, has recognized the value of women and the importance of their great role in supporting men and serving their country in all fields. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 has set in its priorities the achievement of tangible progress towards women’s rights and activities, in order that they occupy a prominent position, according to a certain strategy, the newspapers said. The world today, March 8, celebrates International Women's Day, which is a day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, the newspapers added. On this occasion, the newspapers pointed to the most prominent indicators of the National Transformation Program related to the empowerment of women, the Saudi female labor force participation rate amounted to 31.3% in Q3 of 2020, compared to 21.2 in 2017. The Saudi female unemployment rate amounted to 30.2% in Q3 of 2020, decreasing from 31.7% in Q1 of 2019. As for the economic participation index of Saudi females, the percentage in the first half of 2020 was 31.4% compared to 17% in 2017. All these numbers are evidence of the accelerating women’s employment, empowerment and motivating them to contribute to the advancement of society, the newspapers concluded. In another context, Al-Yaum newspaper reported in its editorial that the terrorist Houthi militia continues its attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, targeting civilians and civilian objects in a deliberate and systematic manner. The newspaper pointed to a statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki as saying that “The Royal Saudi Air Defense (RSAD) has intercepted and destroyed today (Friday), (6) bomb-laden UAVs launched by the terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia in a deliberate, systematic manner to target civilians and civilian objects in Khamis Mushait". The statement added that “ The Coalition is exercising utmost restraint in facing these flagrant violations of the International Humanitarian Law perpetrated by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which amount to war crimes. The sources of these threats and imminent attacks using ballistic missiles and bomb-laden UAVs are being targeted decisively in conformity with the customary International Humanitarian Law. ‏The targeting operations to neutralize, dismantle and destroy the bomb-laden UAV and ballistic missile storage sites and mobile launch vehicles used to target civilians and civilian objects are conducted under accurate, real-time Intelligence and Surveillance monitoring operations, and through accurate, direct targeting of legitimate military targets. We reaffirm that all Coalition military operations are carried out in conformity with the customary International Humanitarian Law." The newspaper concluded that all presented information reflects this extraordinary ability of the Saudi defense forces. These practices of the Iranian arms, the terrorist Houthi militia, requires the international community to have a decisive and responsible action that deters the Iranian terrorist regime and puts an end to its crimes, which threaten the security of the region and the world. --SPA