In response to “Endless War”, the editorial published in The Hindu on August 11, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to India, His Excellency Saud Al Sati, writes:
I am writing to present certain facts that may not have been taken into consideration while writing the editorial. It is important to understand that the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition is providing military assistance to Yemen based on an official request from its internationally recognised government headed by President Hadi to counter the violence of the Houthi terrorist groups. The UN Security Council, in its Resolution 2216, imposed an arms embargo on Houthi terrorists and categorically placed the onus on the rebels to end any provocations or threats to neighbouring States, release all political prisoners and end the recruitment of children.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia did not want a war in Yemen but was forced to after the coup by the Houthi militia against the legitimate and internationally recognised government and UN-supported peace process.
Let us make no mistake that Houthis are an armed terrorist group, operate a military outside the legitimate government, are in possession of ballistic missiles, drones, and suicide boats that represent a threat to Yemen, its people, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and to the region at large. More than 150 ballistic missiles in addition to 40,000 mortars, rockets and other projectiles have been fired at Saudi towns, killing at least 375 civilians, closing more than 500 schools and displacing 24 villages and over 17,000 people. Women and children are being coerced by Houthi militias to join the fighting in Yemen for use as human shields. The Houthis are not only a regional threat but also a global one, as they have been relentlessly targeting the vital Red Sea maritime routes and attacking civilian ships and oil tankers.
We have taken every precaution to make sure that civilians are not hurt. Even in the case of the Saada incident, as put forth by the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UN, Ambassador Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, the legitimate military action was taken on Thursday August 9 when Houthi leaders were targeted in Saada governorate. The military action also targeted some of the most prominent trainers on weapons, including a sniper trainer. This military action, conducted in conformity with the International Humanitarian Law and its Customary Rules. The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen affirms that it has referred this incident immediately to the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) for investigation, and to conduct their assessment of the procedures and conditions of the said operation, and announce the results expeditiously.
Huge difference
The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen is making a huge difference in the country. Despite heightened security concerns, we extended over $11 billion in humanitarian aid to all the provinces in Yemen — including areas controlled by the Houthi rebels.
However, the Houthis have been looting the civilians of Yemen in the areas controlled by them. They are also blocking aid from reaching other areas. Despite this, we are continuing our aid to the country for the benefit of all its people. We even allowed Yemenis who fled Yemen and entered the Kingdom illegally to adjust their status and become legal residents. We are the single largest donor of humanitarian aid to Yemen, having provided health, nutrition, and sanitation aid and relief to 17 million people impacted by the conflict.
Our Foreign Minister, Al- Jubeir, has reiterated time and again that the crisis in Yemen can only be solved through a political process. However, Houthis have hardened against a political process in Yemen because of Iran's obstinacy and interference. We know very well that the entire crisis has been orchestrated by none other than Iran which has used terrorism as an instrument of its foreign policy since the 1979 Revolution.
Iran is supporting and arming the Houthi militia with suicide drones, mines and ballistic missiles in violation of UNSC resolution 2216. We have intercepted Iranian ships carrying weapons, including missiles, to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Saudi Arabia will continue working with its regional coalition partners as well as the UN and friends and allies towards achieving a cohesive and acceptable political solution to the crisis in Yemen, and compelling the forces that are instigating the issue to come to the negotiation table as soon as possible in order to alleviate the problems of the civilian population of Yemen who are becoming hapless victim of the Houthi terrorist militia.
