On Saudi attacks, Erdogan: We have to look at how the Yemen conflict started
September 17, 2019, 7:42 am

On Saudi attacks, Erdogan: We have to look at how the Yemen conflict started

Turkish President Erdogan attends a news conference in Ankara. (Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday linked Saturday's attack on Saudi Arabian oil facilities with the war in Yemen.

When asked about the impact of the recent attacks on Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Abqaiq and Hijrat Khurais, Erdogan responded by saying: “We have to look at how the conflict in Yemen started. This country was completely destroyed - who caused it?”

The war in Yemen began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia overthrew the internationally recognized Yemeni government. The Arab Coalition was subequently assembled and intervened to combat the Houthis.

Erdogan had previously voiced support for the Arab Coalition's role in Yemen. In March, 2015, Erdogan said “we support Saudi Arabia’s intervention,” adding that “Turkey may consider providing logistical support based on the evolution of the situation,” in an interview with news channel France 24.

Erdogan's recent comments came during a press conference in Ankara, after a trilateral meeting on Syria with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

Although the Iran-backed Houthi militia has claimed it launched the attack from Yemen, US officials pointed to satellite imagery that they said showed the attacks were launched from a west-northwest direction.

Multiple reports quoted US intelligence sources as saying that the attack originated from Iran. US President Donald Trump previously said on Monday that it was “looking like” Iran was responsible for the attack.

The Arab Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki said that the initial investigations indicated that the weapons used in the attacks on two Saudi Aramco oil facilities are Iranian.

Erdogan has also previously criticized Tehran's role in the region, stating in 2015 that “Iran is trying to dominate the region.”

US officials inform Saudi Arabia that Iran source of oil facility attack Iran’s leader Khamenei says US policy of maximum pressure will fail

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”