New york: The Kingdom of Morocco reaffirmed, on Thursday during a UN Security Council arria formula meeting, its “support and absolute solidarity” with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia following the “cowardly” attacks perpetrated by Houthi rebels.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, expressed Morocco’s stance during a meeting organized by the Kingdom of Bahrain, a non-permanent member of the Security Council. The minister condemned the attack carried out by the Houthis against the holy city of Mecca, emphasizing Morocco’s support for all measures taken by Saudi Arabia to protect its territory and ensure the safety of its population.

During the meeting, held under the theme “Safe seas, shared security: Protecting freedom of navigation in an evolving security environment,” Bourita highlighted the implications of the Houthi attempt to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait. He stressed that the security of international strait
s is now threatened by non-state actors, which necessitates a reevaluation of international security approaches.

The minister further pointed out that the Strait of Hormuz crisis underscored the limitations of the existing legal framework, highlighting the need for effective mechanisms to prevent and manage such crises. The meeting, attended by members of the Security Council, UN member states, and subject-matter experts, underscored the urgency of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and finding a swift solution to the crisis in the Strait of Bab al-Mandab.