French president condemns ballistic missile attack by Houthi militia against Riyadh

Emmanuel Macron thanked King Salman and his government for their efforts to counter terrorism

France's President Emmanuel Macron gives a press conference with Niger's President at the Presidential palace in Niamey on December 23, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ludovic MARIN
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French president Emmanuel Macron condemned the attempt by the Houthi militia to target Riyadh with a ballistic missile, expressing France's support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia against any threat to its security.

Mr Macron's remarks came in a telephone call with King Salman of Saudi Arabia, reported the state-run Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

It said that Mr Macron stressed the necessity of working to confront Iran's activities that aim to destabilise the region, stressing his country's clear stance towards the destructive role of Tehran in supporting the Houthi militia and providing it with ballistic missile techniques to attack the kingdom and the stability of the region.

The French president thanked King Salman and his government for their efforts in countering terrorism and extremism as well as their efforts to dry out the sources of terrorism, especially the kingdom's recent support for the efforts aimed at countering terrorism in the Sahel.