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.