Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Khalid bin Salman commented on U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to cease military support for operations in Yemen, conveying a message regarding the challenges facing Washington and the Kingdom in the region.
In a tweet, Khalid bin Salman stated, "The Kingdom affirms its continued support for diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution in Yemen in accordance with the three references and its support for the legitimate Yemen government politically and militarily" against the militias on all fronts and with determination.
The Deputy Minister of Defense further emphasized in additional tweets in English: "The Kingdom takes pride in being the primary supporter of Yemen through humanitarian aid and more, and we will continue to work with our allies to alleviate the humanitarian situation and implement a sustainable political settlement."
He clarified that Saudi Arabia did not spare any effort in seeking a sustainable political solution to the conflict before the overthrow of the Yemeni government in 2014, including the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, the Kuwait talks, and numerous other UN-mediated peace discussions.
He continued: "We welcome President Biden's stated commitment to work with friends and allies to resolve conflicts as we have done for over seven decades. We look forward to working with our friends in the United States to face all challenges in the region."
President Joe Biden announced last night the suspension of all forms of U.S. military support for military operations in Yemen, including related arms sales.
Yemen has witnessed an armed conflict between government forces led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and the "Ansar Allah" group since 2014. Since March 26, 2015, Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition of Arab and Islamic countries in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government in its efforts to regain the capital, Sana'a, and large areas of Yemen controlled by the "Ansar Allah" group since late 2014.
