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OIC denounces foiled missile attacks on Holy Makkah

JEDDAH, Oct 28 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Iyad Madani said Friday that he will hold consultations with members of the OIC executive committee on the recent ballistic missile attacks by the Yemeni Ansarullah militia against Holy Makkah.
The consultations will focus on the possibility of holding an OIC meeting to discuss these serious developments, he said in a press release.
On behalf of the organization, Madani strongly condemned as abhorrent the missile attacks the latest of which took place yesterday.
He said that such an attack "is another one in a series of dangerous attacks targeting holy places in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," recalling the dreadful attack in the vicinity of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah Al-Munawarah last June.
He considered the launch of ballistic missiles by Ansarullah and former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's forces on Holy Makkah is foolishness and a complete disregard and disrespect of the feelings of Muslims and their sanctities.
"It is an attack on all Muslims around the world because of the reverence and status of the holy city for all Muslims," he said.
Madani noted that such an attack is a desperate attempt to disrupt safety and security in the holy lands and to foil all efforts for ending the conflict in Yemen through peaceful means, especially after the UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad raised new ideas for solving the crisis.
He stressed that any threat to the security of Saudi Arabia is a threat to the security and cohesion of the entire Muslim world.
The Secretary-General reiterated the support of OIC to the legitimate Yemeni government and the efforts of the UN towards finding a political solution that guarantees the security of Yemen and its stability while maintaining its unity and territorial safety.
He also reiterated the support of the OIC to the continuous efforts of Saudi Arabia in establishing peace in Yemen and supporting the legitimate institutions there.
He stressed the full solidarity of OIC with Saudi Arabia in all the steps and procedures it takes to preserve its safety and stability.
Yesterday, the command of the Saudi-led coalition said the Saudi Air Defense Force intercepted a ballistic missile fired by the Yemeni Ansarullah militia from Sa'da governorate towards the Holy Makkah region.
The missile was destroyed nearly 65 km. away from the western Saudi Arabian region without resulting in any damage.
A similar attack by the Yemeni Houthi militia targeted Al-Taif city, in the southern part of Holy Makkah region and the missile was destroyed by the Saudi air defense.
On Sunday, October 9, a ballistic missile was intercepted in Taif city near Holy Makkah, the deepest strike yet into the kingdom by Ansarullah and supporters of Saleh. (end) nh.gb