“In brotherly Yemen, the Kingdom reaffirms its comprehensive support, through the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, for the Yemeni government, to extend its authority throughout the country, restore stability, and confront the attacks of the terrorist Houthi militias.”
These were the words of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the speech he delivered on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques before the Shura Council a week ago.
As the leadership of this blessed country has always demonstrated, words and deeds go hand in hand, and stability remains its ultimate goal. This did not emerge out of a vacuum. In the history of the founder of this nation, may God have mercy on him, there was a similar moment more than ninety years ago, when Imam Yahya Hamid el-Din, may God have mercy on him, attacked Najran, Abha, and Jazan.
The founder then made his famous declaration: “I am willing to be described as a coward if it will prevent bloodshed and destruction; but if the matter reaches the point of threatening my country’s sovereignty, I will never accept humiliation,” or words to that effect. This ultimately led to the Treaty of Taif on the border between the two countries in 1354 AH (1934 AD), and the withdrawal of Yemeni forces from Saudi territory.
Our leadership has exercised patience, and great patience at that, in the face of repeated provocations by the Houthi group over many years in an effort to avoid conflict. But when matters reached a breaking point, the signs of Yemen’s liberation from the tyranny of this renegade faction began to emerge. Their forces quickly suffered setbacks on various fronts, and President Al-Alimi declared that the liberation of Sanaa was the objective.
Saudi Arabia has never coveted Yemeni land, nor has it sought war there. On the contrary, throughout the past years, it has consistently called for a peaceful solution that would restore stability and security to Yemen and its people.
It worked with mediators to bring an end to the tragedy inflicted upon ordinary Yemenis by a group that has shown them neither compassion, responsibility, nor mercy. Instead, it has undermined peace and stability, oppressed the population, and subjected them to profound injustice and hardship.
Now, however, as the forces of victory move forward to restore a long-denied right, congratulations are due to the people of Yemen on the prospect of seeing their country regain its happiness. May God bless our leadership, which has stepped forward with its own capabilities to deter the aggressor and uphold the cause of peace.
The Kingdom remains, as it has always been, a supporter of Yemen and its people. Just days ago, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may God preserve him, directed authorities to begin regularizing the status of all Yemenis residing in the Kingdom without legal documentation, in response to a request from President Rashad Al-Alimi.
This served as further evidence that Saudi Arabia’s concern for Yemen’s welfare does not stop at the battlefield but extends to the livelihood and well-being of Yemeni citizens. It is a sword against the aggressor and a shelter for those who seek protection.
