Saudi Arabia rejects Iran's call to end Yemen raids

Saudi foreign minister says air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen are intended to defend "legitimate" government.

12 Apr 2015


The Saudi-led coalition began bombing Yemen rebels' positions on March 26 [AP]

Saudi Arabia has rejected calls by Iran to halt air strikes on neighbouring Yemen, saying Tehran should not interfere in the conflict, now in its second week.

Speaking at a news conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said on Sunday the aerial bombardment on Houthi positions seeks to help a "legitimate" government.

"How can Iran call for us to stop the fighting in Yemen ... We came to Yemen to help the legitimate authority, and Iran is not in charge of Yemen," al-Faisal told a joint news conference with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius.

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies began air strikes against Iranian-allied Houthi fighters in Yemen on March 26 to try to prevent them from expanding their control across the country.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/04/saudi-arabia-rejects-iran-call-yemen-raids-150412130517882.html