The visionary leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman was evident as he successfully put together a strong coalition of Arab countries to launch Operation Decisive Storm to restore the legitimate government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Yemen.

Addressing the 26th Arab Summit at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh after the launch of airstrikes on rebel Houthi militias, King Salman vowed that the military intervention would continue until it brings security to the Yemeni people.

Attending Arab states affirmed that the Kingdom-led operation to restore legitimacy in Yemen is fundamental to safeguard the region’s stability and the Arabic identity of Yemen.

King Salman’s diplomacy will be written in history as coalition forces led by the Kingdom checked the asymmetric warfare and advancement of Shiite Houthi militants in Yemen.

It was time to act and act decisively as Iran was clearly involved in a proxy war in an attempt to establish a client state in Yemen by helping the Shiite militia.

“There is no doubt that Iran and the Shiite militia Hezbollah are supporting the Houthi militia,” said Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Assiri, consultant in the office of the defense minister.

To this end, during his daily briefings at Riyadh Air Base, Al-Assiri noted: “It is not strange to notice Iranian involvement as Iran was helping Houthi militants dismantle the legitimate government in Yemen.”

Moreover, he said: “Iran played a role in arming the militia which is killing people in Yemen.” Therefore, it was vital for the Kingdom, under the able leadership of King Salman, to lead from the front with a firm defense policy, one that secures not only the Kingdom’s borders but that of the entire region.

At the same time, King Salman announced humanitarian assistance for civilians in Yemen and invited the United Nations to join in relief work. “We hope that the United Nations will participate effectively with what this center will shoulder, including coordinating all humanitarian and relief work for the Yemeni people with the participation of the countries that are supporting the Gulf initiative,” he said.

The coalition has the support of allied states to put the rebel militants on their knees by destroying air defense and ballistic missile stockpiles that had fallen under the control of the Shiite militia, said Al-Assiri.

The intensified military operation was successfully called off once defined objectives were attained and replaced by Operation Restoring Hope to restore legitimacy with a strong warning to Iran to keep itself out of the affairs of Arab countries in the Arabian Gulf.

The dynamic statesmanship provided by King Salman is encouraging for the Arab world, now increasingly taking responsibility for managing their own affairs.

Saudi Arabia is now clearly emerging as the Arab world’s most powerful state, leading by example under the supervision of King Salman.