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Federal Foreign Office on the renewed missile attack on Riyadh
A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (19 December) on the renewed missile attack on the Saudi Arabian capital by Yemeni Houthi rebels on 19 December 2017:
We condemn the renewed missile attack on the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia launched from Yemen in the strongest possible terms. There can be no justification for such an act. The missile attacks on Saudi Arabia must finally stop.
This further military escalation by the Houthi rebels will only aggravate the conflict further. We now urgently need a political solution for the Yemen conflict.
That is why the Federal Government is continuing to lend firm support to the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen. We call upon the parties to declare an immediate cease fire and engage in negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. The Yemen conflict can only be resolved by diplomatic means.
Background information:
The Yemeni Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for today's missile attack on Riyadh, saying the target was the palace of the Saudi Arabian Government.
This is the second missile attack on the Saudi capital launched from Yemen. On 4 November, a missile was intercepted near Riyadh airport. On 1 December, a further missile was launched from Yemen targeting Asir province in south western Saudi Arabia. The Federal Government condemned both attacks in the strongest possible terms.