DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday visited the main operations room of Operation Decisive Storm at Riyadh airbase, where he was briefed on the progress of the joint Arab military operation against the Houthis in Yemen.
The Emir contacted via satellite the coalition forces at Khamis Mushait military base. He praised their efforts and encouraged them to press ahead towards realising the security and stability of Yemen and to protect the security of Saudi Arabia and the entire region, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported yesterday.
The Emir was welcomed at the airbase by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Defence, Chief of the Royal Court and Special Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and a number of high-ranking officers and military men.
During the visit, the Emir was accompanied by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and a delegation comprising senior Qatari officials.
The Emir earlier discussed with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia a number of matters of mutual concern and the latest Arab and international developments, particularly the situation in Yemen. The meeting, held at Al Auja Palace in Al Dera’iya, also dealt with means of continuing support and development of the close fraternal relations between the two countries in various fields.
The Emir also met Saudi Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Mohamed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. During his brief visit to Saudi Arabia, the Emir met Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi. Talks during the meeting dealt with the latest developments in Yemen, and the efforts of Operation Decisive Storm, led by Saudi Arabia, in addition to means to end the crisis of Yemen.
During the meeting, the Emir affirmed Qatar’s continued solidarity and support for Yemen in protecting its security and stability. The Yemeni Foreign Minister Dr Riyadh Yaseen was also present at the meeting.
The Peninsula
Aden: Washington warned yesterday it would not stand by while Tehran supports Shia rebels in Yemen, as Iran’s supreme leader denounced Saudi-led air strikes in the country as “criminal acts”.
In the most direct American criticism yet of Tehran’s backing for the Shia Houthi rebels, Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington would not accept foreign interference in Yemen.
“There have been — there are, obviously — flights coming from Iran. Every single week there are flights from Iran and we’ve traced it and know this,” Kerry told PBS television. “Iran needs to recognise that the United States is not going to stand by while the region is destabilised or while people engage in overt warfare across lines, international boundaries in other countries.”
Washington has backed the Saudi-led air campaign which began last month as the rebels advanced on Aden after seizing Sana’a.
Iran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the campaign against the Houthis must end. “This move is not acceptable in the region and I would warn that they must stop these criminal acts in Yemen,” he said.
Kerry said Washington was not looking for confrontation. “But we’re not going to step away from our alliances and our friendships and the need to stand with those who feel threatened as a consequence of the choices that Iran might be making.”
In another sign of growing US support for the Saudi effort, the Pentagon said it had started aerial refuelling for coalition aircraft. Overnight air strikes killed at least 14 rebels near Aden’s northern edge. Yesterday, witnesses heard three explosions as coalition aircraft attacked the defence ministry building in Sana’a. Three bases of the Republican Guards, loyal to Houthi ally and former strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh — were also hit. AFP
