Saudi-led coalition to degrade, destroy Houthis' capabilities - Amb. Al-Jubair

WASHINGTON, April 2 (KUNA) -- Saudi Ambassador to the US Adel Al-Jubair said Thursday the Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm aimed at degrading and destroying Houthi militias' capabilities.
The military operations "objectives are being achieved" to reach the conclusion all coalition members want, Al-Jubair said during an event on "Yemen in Chaos," organized by the National Council on US-Arab Relations.
He said coalition airstrikes have been targeting military equipment and facilities controlled by Houthis, who could not carry heavy weapons outside the framework of the legitimate state.
Al-Jubair said they have tried to support stability and development in Yemen but Houthis' threats against legitimate President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi who appealed for the GCC help left them with "no choice but to respond." The coalition, said the ambassador, wanted to protect Yemeni people from a group "associated with Iran and Hezbollah. They are now in control of air force, something we cannot tolerate ... operations are ongoing, we targeted air force and bases and heavy weapons, and so we tried our best to minimize collateral damage." Al-Jubair said former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was playing negative role and his supporters were helping Houthis, who could not make these gains without pro-Saleh forces.
He said the GCC countries would support the Yemeni economic following the restoration of government and President Hadi, because the coalition believed there are huge investment potentials in Yemen, where poverty and unemployment were high.
Hadi "is the legitimate leader of Yemen," said Al-Jubair and it was up to the Yemenis to select their leaders. (end) yt.bs