Yemen’s political solution up to Houthis: Saudi FM

CAIRO – 18 April 2018: Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that reaching a political solution in Yemen is only up to the Houthi militia, not to Saudi Arabia or any other international organization.

He affirmed during a joint press conference with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres on Tuesday that the Houthis, who illegally took over Yemen, are the party standing in the way of reaching a political and final solution.

“They took over the country, transformed it into military barracks, used children in the war, planted mines, blocked villages and caused famine,” Jubeir stated, adding that all of their actions are completely unacceptable.

The Saudi minister said that after the assassination of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh last December, Houthis became isolated. “The public opinion turned against them and the political parties avoided cooperating with them,” he stated, adding, “They violate international laws constantly.”

Jubeir assured that the only accepted political solution to end the Yemeni war should come within Arab initiatives.

Former President Saleh was assassinated in a shooting on December 4, 2017 by the Houthi militia while he was heading to his home in Sanhan, Sanaa. Photos and videos of the brutal assassination went viral on social media, shortly after announcing his death by the rebel militia.

In a televised speech following the assassination, Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi called on Yemenis to rise up against the Iran-aligned Houthis. He also called for a new approach in the battle against the rebel militia, who had been allied with Saleh before he turned against them by backing the Saudi-led coalition.