• 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.
• Thus, 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.
• Houthis are an armed terrorist group, operate a military outside the legitimate government, are in possession of ballistic missiles, drones, and suicide boats.
• 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.
• A legitimate military action was taken while targeting Houthi leaders in Saada governorate and precautions are taken to make sure that civilians are not hurt as assured by Abdullah Al-Mouallimi. (Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UN )
• This military action was conducted in conformity with the International Humanitarian Law and its Customary Rules and referred to 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.
• The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen 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 and blocking the aid from reaching other areas.
• Saudi Arabia allowed Yemenis who fled Yemen and entered the Kingdom illegally to adjust their status and become legal residents and is 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.
• Saudi Arabia 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, which has used terrorism as an instrument of its foreign policy since the 1979 Revolution and supporting and arming the Houthi militia with suicide drones, mines and ballistic missiles in violation of UNSC resolution 2216.
• Despite this, Saudi Arabia will continue working towards achieving a cohesive and acceptable political solution to the crisis in Yemen in order to alleviate the problems of the civilian population of Yemen who are becoming hapless victim of the Houthi terrorist militia.
Source : The Hindu