RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by King Salman, on Tuesday said the Kingdom would not hesitate to take the necessary measures to confront any threat to its national security, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It added that it rejected any challenges to the security, stability and sovereignty of Yemen.
The Cabinet was meeting following a “limited airstrike” targeting weapons and military vehicles reported to be destined for the Southern Transitional Council in Yemen, which was carried out by the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen that backs Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council.
It also also said it hoped the UAE would cease any military or financial support to the southern separatist forces or any other party within Yemen, and expressed hope that Emirati forces would withdraw from Yemen within 24 hours in accordance with a Yemeni request.
The Cabinet said it hoped that the UAE will take the necessary steps to preserve Saudi-Emirati relations which the Kingdom is keen to strengthen, and said it looks forward to working together toward everything that will enhance the prosperity and stability of countries of the region.
The Cabinet expressed its regret over the outcome of de-escalation efforts that the Kingdom has been keen to pursue, which have been met with an unjustified escalation that contradicts the principles upon which the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen was founded, undermines its efforts to achieve security and stability in Yemen, and is inconsistent with all the promises the Kingdom received from the UAE.
The Cabinet said it appreciated the role of the coalition in protecting civilians in the governorates of Hadramaut and Al-Mahra in response to the request of the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alimi, and in reducing escalation in order to achieve security and stability and preventing the expansion of the conflict.
The Cabinet reaffirmed that the Kingdom will not hesitate to take necessary steps and measures to confront any infringement or threat to its national security, and its commitment to , and its full support for Al-Alimi and his government.
In other regional affairs, the Cabinet reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of Somalia, and rejects the declaration of mutual recognition between Israel and Somaliland as it enshrines unilateral separatist measures that violate international law.
