Iran criticizes Saudi military intervention in Yemen

Ahvaz, Iran, Jan. 13 (MNA) – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has criticized Saudi Arabia for its military intervention in Yemen.


Addressing people in the southern city of Ahvaz on Wednesday, Ahmadinejad said Saudis should have mediated between the Houthi fighters and the Yemeni government and not used military weapons against their Muslim brothers.


The president said the hegemonic powers have involved Saudi Arabia in the Yemen conflict in order to take control of regional affairs and make Muslims use their weapons against Muslims.


He went on to say that the conflict in Yemen was created by the U.S., Britain and Israel in order to throw the Middle Eastern region into more disarray.


The conflict between the Yemeni government and Houthi fighters in northern Yemen began in 2004. It intensified in August 2009 when the Yemeni army launched Operation Scorched Earth in an attempt to crush Houthi fighters in the northern province of Saada.


The government claims that the fighters, who are named after their leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, seek to restore the Shia imamate system, which was overthrown in a 1962 military coup.


However, the Houthis say they are defending their people’s civil rights, which the government has undermined under pressure from Saudi-backed Wahhabi extremists. Shias, who form the clear majority in the north, make up approximately 40 to 50 percent of Yemen’s total population.


Arrogant powers will turn against China, India


Ahmadinejad also predicted that China and India would be the next target of the hegemonic powers as Chinese and Indian economies are flourishing and the Western economy is collapsing.


He called on the Indian and Chinese government to be vigilant, saying the arrogant powers cannot tolerate powerful and developed Asian countries.