Saudi Arabia Rejects Any Attempt to Impose ‘New Reality’ in Yemen
Saudi Arabia has refused any "new reality"
imposed by force in Yemen, saying any attempt to destabilize the country's
security would be a threat against the Kingdom and "will be dealt with
decisively".
In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency,
the Kingdom affirmed that the conflicting parties and the legitimate government
have to swiftly take part in the Jeddah dialogue.
“The Kingdom affirms its firm position that there is
no alternative to the legitimate government in Yemen and that it does not
accept any attempts to create a new reality in Yemen by using force or the
threat of force,” it said.
“Saudi Arabia asserts its ongoing support for the
Yemeni legitimacy under the leadership of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and
his government and its efforts to preserve the interests of the Yemeni state,
security and stability, unity and territorial integrity of the people of Yemen,
and to counter the coup of the Houthi terrorist militia and combat other
terrorist organizations," it added.
The Saudi statement came as US Assistant Secretary
of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker told reporters during a visit
Thursday to Al-Kharj air base near the Saudi capital Riyadh that Washington is
in talks with the Iran-backed Houthis in a bid to end the country’s war.
“We are narrowly focused on trying to end the war in
Yemen,” he said.
"The United States is working to try and
prevent the smuggling of weapons to the Houthis," Schenker said as he
condemned the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia. "That's a priority for
us."
Schenker’s comments marked the first contact between
the administration of President Donald Trump and the Houthis in over four
years.
