By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON- India on Friday reiterated its concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Red Sea region as well as the attempted attack on Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that these developments threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.
Jaiswal has described the attacks as “unacceptable” and called for an early return to peace and stability in the region, IANS reported.
“We are deeply concerned about the escalation in the security situation in the Red Sea area. You would have seen our statement earlier as well. We have expressed our condemnation of the attacks on Saudi sovereign territory, including on civilians and economic assets. You would have also seen a statement that we issued following the attempted attack on the holy city of Mecca. Such attacks vitiate the regional security situation. They impact or undermine regional peace and security and also threaten freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb,” Jaiswal said.
He added, “Obviously, for various reasons, this is totally unacceptable to us. We hope that there is an early restoration of peace and stability in the region”.
MEA Spokesman expressed concern over the drone attack near Mecca.
He said that the incident was “particularly concerning”, considering the religious significance of the Saudi Arabian city.
“We are deeply concerned at the drone attack near Makkah (Mecca). India reiterates its condemnation of attacks on the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and of actions that endanger civilian lives and infrastructure. The incident near Makkah is particularly concerning, given the special significance of the city to Muslims across the world,” Jaiswal said.
“We hope for the early restoration of peace and stability in the region,” he added.
Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces intercepted and destroyed a hostile drone launched by the Houthis before it entered the prohibited airspace of Mecca on Tuesday, media reported.
