Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco facility in Riyadh

Yemen's Houthi group said Saturday it launched ballistic missiles and drones at an Aramco facility in the Saudi capital city of Riyadh, in retaliation for what it described as intensified Saudi air and missile strikes on Yemen.

In a statement broadcast by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, Houthi military Spokesman Yahya Sarea claimed the attack achieved its objective, with "direct hits" setting fire to the targeted sites.

He said the attack was in response to what the Houthis described as Saudi airstrikes on the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa and other Houthi-controlled areas earlier in the day.

In a separate statement on Saturday, Sarea said 60 air and missile strikes had hit Yemen over the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number of such attacks since the latest escalation began to 1,410.

The Houthi official vowed that the group would continue its strategy of "blockade for blockade" and "escalation for escalation" until Saudi Arabia halts its air campaigns and lifts restrictions on ports and airports in Houthi-held territories.

Tensions between Houthis and Saudi Arabia intensified after the group announced a ban on Saudi-linked vessels entering Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports on July 20, followed by an escalation in cross-border missile and drone attacks and airstrikes.

The confrontation widened further in September amid the fighting between Houthis and the Yemeni government forces, largely backed by Saudi Arabia. The Houthis captured the Red Sea port city of Mocha on Sept 10 and the strategically located Mayyun Island a day later.

The Yemeni government said on Sept 11 that the Houthi forces had taken control of the entire western coast of the country and pushed their offensive to the southern province of Rahji.

Yemen's conflict began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.

Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco facility in Riyadh

Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco facility in Riyadh

Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco facility in Riyadh

Yemen's Houthis claim attack on Aramco facility in Riyadh

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Baku on Wednesday.

Aliyev asked Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, to convey his warm greetings and best wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping and thanked Xi for sending Wang as his special representative to attend the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Azerbaijan.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan and China enjoy a high level of political mutual trust and mutually beneficial economic cooperation, and their comprehensive strategic partnership is flourishing.

The common understandings he reached with President Xi during his visit to China last year have been effectively implemented, bringing bilateral relations to a new stage, Aliyev said.

Aliyev expressed appreciation for China's longstanding strong support for Azerbaijan in pursuing its economic and social development and safeguarding national interests.

He said Azerbaijan regards China as a leading force in the rise of the Global South, and Chinese modernization has set an example for developing countries, including Azerbaijan.

Noting that Azerbaijan was among the first countries to support and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, Aliyev said a series of cooperation projects between the two countries has yielded fruitful results.

Azerbaijan is willing to strengthen strategic alignment with China and further expand cooperation in areas such as energy and connectivity, Aliyev said, adding that Azerbaijan welcomes more Chinese companies to invest and do business in the country.

He also called for making full use of the mutual visa exemption agreement to further promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan firmly adheres to the one-China principle, fully supports the global initiatives put forward by President Xi, and appreciates China's consistent commitment to upholding international fairness and justice and multilateralism.

Azerbaijan is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in international and regional affairs, he added.

Wang conveyed President Xi's cordial greetings to President Aliyev, saying that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and Azerbaijan have maintained mutual understanding, trust and support, with bilateral relations enjoying strong momentum of growth and showing broad prospects for development.

China congratulates Azerbaijan on the remarkable progress it has made in national development under President Aliyev's leadership, supports Azerbaijan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Azerbaijan and other parties on the Middle Corridor and remains a reliable long-term strategic partner in the process of Azerbaijan's development, Wang said.

China appreciates Azerbaijan's longstanding strong support on issues concerning China's core interests and also supports Azerbaijan in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wang said.

China's development represents a rise in the strength of the Global South and a boost to the collective strength of developing countries, Wang said, adding that China stands ready to continue close coordination and cooperation with Azerbaijan to safeguard the common interests of Global South countries.

China supports Azerbaijan in playing an important role on multilateral platforms such as CICA and in international affairs, and in making greater contributions to regional and global peace and stability, Wang said.

During the visit, Wang also held talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

Azerbaijani president meets Chinese FM