Fighting Al-Qaeda ‘now a priority’ in Yemen

Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir. (SPA)

JEDDAH: The priority in Yemen is no longer to wage a war against the Houthis but to fight Al-Qaeda, the Kingdom has said.
In an interview in the French newspaper Le Figaro, Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said Al-Qaeda and Daesh are two terrorist organizations and they need to be contained.
Le Figaro said Al-Jubeir’s statement is evidence of a change in the situation on the ground in Yemen.
Al-Jubeir explained: “Al-Qaeda and Daesh are terrorist organizations. However, the Houthis are Yemenis and they are our neighbors with whom one can hold talks.”
He expressed optimism about the ongoing talks in Kuwait between the Houthis and the internationally recognized government.
In tweets from his official account, Al-Jubeir said whether we disagree or agree with the Houthis, they remain a part of the social fabric of Yemen.
He also said in another tweet: “Daesh and Al-Qaeda are terrorist organizations that should not be given the chance to exist neither in Yemen, nor in any other part of the world.”
Meanwhile, Yemen has praised Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Saudi government for their efforts in restoring legitimacy in that country and eliminating the gang dubbed “client of coup for Iran.”
In a statement on Saturday, the Yemeni presidency praised coalition countries taking part in the “dignity and heroism battles to restore legitimacy, in order to rebuild Yemen,” noting that “the blood of the sons of the Kingdom, Gulf states and all other coalition countries that mingled with the blood of the Yemeni people, in honor and heroism battles will continue to be an inspirational force for the relationship between Yemen and its neighbors.”
An official source denied a news report that the Yemeni president had requested the leadership of the coalition operating in Aden to withdraw the UAE forces from Yemen.
The source warned that the “forces of darkness are trying hard to undermine Yemen’s relations with its brothers, in order to implement the agenda of serving hostile countries showing hostility to Yemen and countries in the region, through a coup d’état carried out by the militias of Al-Houthi, Saleh and behind them is Iran, on the constitutional legitimacy represented by President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.