Saudi FM: Saudi Arabia has right to defend itself, its lands

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir said the Kingdom has the right to defend itself and its lands, noting that the militias committed about 150 violations during the 72-hour truce in the Yemeni city of Taiz.

In press statements after a meeting with US State Secretary John Kerry, Jubeir condemned the spiraling violence in Yemen.

Kerry underlined that Houthis should abide by the United Nations-brokered truce on Wednesday.

Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which is the country’s main opposition force. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni president Saleh.

A Saudi–led coalition commenced airstrikes in Yemen in March 2015 in support of Hadi’s forces, which have been fighting Houthis in the country.

Jubeir said the talks also tackled the consequences of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) .

Jubeir stressed that the US would be a big loser by issuing this law.

As for Syria, Kerry said the talks tackled the Geneva talks on the Syrian crisis, voicing hope that the suffering of Aleppo city would come to an end.

Jubeir added that the talks addressed the conditions in the Iraqi city of Mosul, Libya and Yemen.

Source: MENA