Kerry backs Saudi strikes against Yemen
US Secretary of State John Kerry is backing Saudi Arabia’s military aggression against Yemen as long as the Ansarullah fighters of the Houthi movement continue to make gains in the country.
The top US diplomat praised the Saudi monarchy Friday for making a shift from a full-scale air campaign to striking targets when the Houthis try to seize more grounds, The Associated Press reports.
Kerry, who was in Canada for an eight-nation Arctic meeting, urged the Ansarullah fighters to come to the negotiating table. "We need the Houthis and we need those that can influence them to make sure that they are prepared to try to move... to the negotiating table."
Kerry’s comments echoed those made by former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who also called on all sides to sit down at the negotiating table and work out a solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia declared the end of "Decisive Storm" operation against Yemen, and announced the beginning of a new phase dubbed "Operation Restoring Hope."
According to a Saudi military statement, the new operation would be aimed at commencing political talks and delivering aid. However, strikes have continued.
The White House said the job was not done in Yemen.
"There is remaining instability in the region, in Yemen," White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said Wednesday on CNN. "There's a lot of work that needs to be done and we're going to be doubling down and continuing to work on that with our partners around the world."
Saudi Arabia started its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 - without a UN mandate - in a bid to restore power to fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.
More than 1,000 people, including at least 115 children, have been killed in the fighting, the United Nations said on Friday.
HRJ/HRJ
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