Saudi Arabia and UAE demonstrate the spirit of solidarity in their join efforts to bring peace in Yemen. The recent Saudi’s move has ended weeks of speculation about the fate of its alliance with Abu Dhabi in war-torn Yemen. The kingdom backs its coalition partner against accusations it was seeking to divide the country and undermine its UN-backed government in Aden, Al Jazeera reports.
The violent fighting between government troops and Houties escalated this month in southern Yemen, fracturing forces meant to be united against Iranian-backed separatists who come from the north.
The UN-backed government says its opponents are armed and financed by the UAE, a charge denied by the latter.
Saudi Prince Khaled, the younger brother of Crown Prince, came a day after Yemen’s government said from Riyadh that the UAE has become a “bigger danger” to war-torn Yemen than Iran. It also accused Emirates of trying to seize the Yemeni coast and oil basins.
The turmoil has raised questions over the strength of a Gulf Arab alliance that plays a crucial role in supporting the Trump administration’s policies against Iran. Anwar Gargash, the UAE state minister for foreign affairs, on Sunday described ties with Riyadh as “existential.”
Saudi Arabia, UAE to double their efforts to counter the Houthi rebels
Cooperation with the U.A.E. is “the cornerstone for security, stability and prosperity in the region in the face of extremism, chaos, discord and division,” Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman said on Twitter.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have issued the joint statement, which says they’ll continue their efforts in Yemen to counter the Houti rebels and called on the government and separatist forces to attend peace talks in the city of Jeddah.
In 2015, these the two powerful Gulf states have launched a military campaign to restore the government’s rule after the Houthis captured the capital Sana’a. The armed conflict has killed thousands and caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, the UN confirmed.
