Govt: Battle to retake Sanaa in 2 months

TANGIER, Morocco: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman reviewed with President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi fast-changing developments in Yemen at his palace in Morocco on Thursday.
President Hadi expressed gratitude and appreciation to King Salman for the moral, political, humanitarian and military assistance extended by the Kingdom to the legitimate government and people of Yemen.
The king reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s unflinching support to the Yemeni government, headed by Hadi.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Culture and Information Minister Dr. Adel Al-Toraifi and intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali Al-Humaidan.
On Wednesday, Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif received a letter from Hadi addressed to King Salman.
In the letter, Hadi praised Saudi Arabia for the correction period that resulted in legitimizing the stay of thousands of Yemenis in the Kingdom. They were given legal status and also allowed to do jobs in Saudi Arabia.
He also thanked the Kingdom for building a shelter inside Yemen to provide humanitarian relief and medical services to those who have been stranded along the Saudi border with Yemen.
Meanwhile, Yemeni Foreign Minister Riad Yassin said his government is not negotiating with Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels, and demands that they lay down their arms. “The Houthis and (former President Ali Abdullah) Saleh’s militias must implement the UN resolution and surrender their weapons, and only then the dialogue and political process can begin, with the participation of all Yemeni parties,” Yassin told reporters in Cairo.
He said government forces intend to launch the battle for Sanaa within two months and steps are already under way to break the grip of Houthi fighters.