US Secretary of State Kerry backs Saudi airstrikes in Yemen

Middle East, News, US April 25, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

US Secretary of State John Kerry is backing Saudi Arabian airstrikes against Yemen as long as the Houthi rebels continue to make gains in the country.

The top US diplomat praised the Saudi monarchy Friday for making a shift from a full-scale air campaign to hitting targets when the Houthi militants try to seize more grounds, The Associated Press reports.

He says the Houthi rebels must give up fighting and enter negotiations.

Kerry, who was in Canada for an eight-nation Arctic meeting, urged the Houthi fighters to come to the negotiating table. “We need the Houthis and we need those that can influence them to make sure that they are prepared to try to move… to the negotiating table.”

Kerry’s comments echoed those made by former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who also called on all sides to sit down at the negotiating table and work out a solution to the conflict.

On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia declared the end of “Decisive Storm” operation against Yemen, and announced the beginning of a new phase dubbed “Operation Restoring Hope.”

According to a Saudi military statement, the new operation would be aimed at commencing political talks and delivering aid. However, strikes have continued.

The White House said the job was not done in Yemen.

“There is remaining instability in the region, in Yemen,” White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said Wednesday on CNN. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done and we’re going to be doubling down and continuing to work on that with our partners around the world.”

Kerry said everyone is concerned about civilian casualties in Yemen. The U.N. says more than 500 civilians have been killed since Saudi airstrikes began last month. US Secretary of State Kerry expressed hope that violence would ease in coming days and U.N.-brokered talks might begin.

HRJ/TR/AP