Riyadh is the haven of the lover... and the graveyard of the aggressor

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Strength is not the quickest to use weapons, nor is wisdom the ability to be patient without end. Between the two, the prestige of countries is known: to give peace its full opportunity, and to have the firmness to protect it when those opportunities are exhausted. A strong state does not look for war to prove its power, nor does it make its keenness to avoid it an open door to testing its sovereignty. This is an equation that Saudi Arabia has known since its founding. She extends her hand to those who come to her in peace, and realizes that protecting the land and people is not a matter of compromise.

Perhaps what Riyadh has been exposed to over the past few days will bring this equation back to the forefront. The city, which has become a symbol of transformation and urbanization, and a forum for investment, culture and life, was extended to it by the hand of meanness and baseness through the missile attacks for which the Houthi group claimed responsibility, which affected civilian facilities and air traffic. Riyadh is not just a political capital; It is a city where millions live, and people come to it for work, education and livelihood. When its skies and civilian facilities become under threat, the issue goes beyond military rivalry to affecting human security and the stability of life.

Since King Abdulaziz unified these countries, state building has been linked to establishing security, gathering the word, and establishing stability. Throughout the reigns of its kings, the Kingdom’s responsibilities expanded, as it participated in reconciliation, relief and support efforts for countries affected by wars and disasters. Yemen was not far from this approach. Its security and stability have remained part of Saudi calculations, not as a land for expansion, but rather as a neighbor whose security is linked to the security of the Kingdom, and whose people’s suffering is linked to the stability of the entire region.

The Kingdom has spent years supporting political and humanitarian paths aimed at ending the Yemeni crisis, but the recent escalation has returned the confrontation to a very sensitive stage. With the military movements announced by the Yemeni government forces, and the reported support for the coalition led by the Kingdom, the possibilities of changing the balance of power have emerged. But real hope should not be reduced to the number of sites restored; Yemenis, exhausted by years of war, are waiting for the return of security, institutions and normal life, not just the conflict moving from one front to another.

Perhaps the most dangerous thing about this escalation is that the attacks extend to airports and civilian facilities, as if the lives of innocent people have become part of the calculations of military pressure. Even war, with all its cruelty, has law, morals, and limits. Deliberately targeting civilians is prohibited, and indiscriminate attacks do not gain legitimacy simply because they declare a political or military goal. When the lives of the traveler, the child, and the civilian worker are at risk, the question is no longer who has the most powerful weapon, but rather who respects the minimum level of humanity of war.

Perhaps one of the most dangerous mistakes in conflict calculations is to read self-restraint as a deficit, and to understand the repeated call for peace as an absence of the ability to respond. The Kingdom did not give political endeavors a chance because it lacked the tools of power, but rather because it understood the cost of war and its consequences. However, the continuation of attacks puts this approach to a very serious test. Patience, which protects the chances of peace, must not be transformed, in the aggressor's calculations, into a guarantee of escaping the consequences of his aggression.

In this context, the readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces and Air Defense Forces is highlighted, and the responsibilities they assume in protecting the airspace and vital installations and supporting military efforts. Behind every successful interception operation are men who carry the nation's trust and perform their duty with professionalism and discipline in extremely complex circumstances. This readiness is not just military strength; It is one of the reasons for the reassurance that the citizen experiences, and one of the components of the continuation of the economy and life despite the turmoil in the region.

From a legal standpoint, the state’s right to protect its sovereignty, population, and capabilities is an inherent right, and the United Nations Charter recognizes the right to self-defense when an armed attack occurs, in accordance with the controls of necessity and proportionality. Therefore, responsible deterrence is not measured by the severity of the strike alone, but rather by its ability to stop the attack and prevent its recurrence, while respecting the rules of protecting civilians. The force worth cherishing is the one that preserves life, not the one that makes destruction an end in itself.

If there is any hope emerging from this difficult stage, it is that the ongoing transformations will lead to a settlement that will restore the Yemenis to their state and security, and end the years of suffering and division. Yemen should not become an arena for endless war, nor should its lands, waters, and airspace remain a constant source of threat. True stability is not achieved by silencing weapons temporarily, but rather by establishing institutions capable of protecting people, preserving sovereignty, and preventing the recurrence of conflict.

Therefore, the most dangerous thing that any party that threatens the security of the Kingdom can do is not to be ignorant of its capabilities, but rather to misinterpret its wisdom. A country that chooses calm does not give up its right to defense, and a country that is keen on peace does not accept that its concern be turned into an open space for aggression. Between firmness and wisdom, the state's responsibility is determined: to protect its people, preserve its sovereignty, and seek peace in which the security of civilians is not a hostage of weapons.

Riyadh, which opens its doors to those who visit it in peace, does not leave its security hostage to those who threaten it with weapons. The kingdom, which knew when to be patient, also knew how to protect its sovereignty and preserve the lives of its people. Between the wisdom of peace and the resolve of defense stands a state that does not make war its goal, and does not allow self-restraint to become a pretext for continued aggression against it.