Operation ‘at Yemen’s request’

The Kingdom launched the current operation in Yemen because it had been asked to do so by the legitimate ruler of the country, a senior Shoura Council official told members of a visiting delegation of US politicians recently. The request was made by Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is the legitimate ruler of Yemen, said Shoura Council Deputy Speaker Mohammed bin Amin Al-Jafri during discussions held at the Shoura headquarters here.
Al-Jafri told the US delegation that the purpose was to relieve the Yemeni people from the oppression and tyranny of the Houthi militias who toppled the legitimate regime and took over the state’s institutions.
The council hosted a reception in honor of the US parliamentary delegation at the Shoura headquarters on Tuesday. The discussions between the members took place on the sidelines of the reception.
Al-Jafri described the decision to launch Decisive Storm as “wise and right” and that it had been taken in cooperation with coalition forces and the international community. He said Saudi Arabia wanted to protect the Yemeni people.
During the meeting, the deputy speaker also commended the relations between the Kingdom and the United States in various fields, especially parliamentary relations.
Chairman of the Saudi-US Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Shoura Council Khalid Al-Awad held a separate meeting with the members of the US delegation. During the meeting, they reviewed several issues of common interest, in addition to regional developments and the Kingdom’s fight against terrorism.
Stewart Wight, acting spokesman of the US Embassy in Riyadh, said the Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, Sen. Jim Inhofe and their respective delegations met with Saudi officials on Sunday and Monday, including Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Naif, second deputy premier and interior minister, and Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to discuss bilateral and regional issues.
“The visits of these high-level US delegations show the importance that US officials and politicians place on consulting with senior officials in Saudi Arabia regarding regional affairs and to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various important spheres,” Wight said.