Top Saudi officials and academics on Sunday rallied behind the government for its action in Yemen, saying that helping the victims of oppression is a religious duty.

“That is the very principle of Islam toward Muslims who have their rights when they are in dire need of help for being oppressed,” Saudi Justice Minister Dr. Waleed Al-Samaani, said.

Al-Samaani, who is also the acting chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, emphasized the need for a military operation in the neighboring country to protect its legitimate government.

According to the minister, the move by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman was based on Article 61 of the Basic Law and a legitimate response to the appeal by the government and the Yemeni people.

“Their land has been invaded and their wealth has been looted, while security and stability were heavily destabilized at the hands of militias supported by regional powers with colonial ambitions,” he said.

Calling it a wise decision, Al-Samaani said it was inspired by what Almighty Allah has clearly commanded: “If two parties among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them. But if one of them outrages the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which has outraged till it complies with the command of Allah. If it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable.”

The minister said, “Saudi Arabia has made attempts with its brothers in the Arab and Islamic countries to seek mediation between the brothers in Yemen, but these efforts have not been heeded by the invading Houthi group.” He said this decision was taken in the larger interest of the Kingdom and Gulf states, in addition to Arab region and the Islamic world that are keen to bring any semblance of unity and stability in Yemen.

Al-Samaani said the Kingdom, which houses the two holy mosques to which more than one billion Muslims in the world turn for prayers, offers security for every Muslim. They look at this blessed country with love and respect.

“To support this blessed move that aims to retrieve the stolen rights of Yemen by militias working for starvation and intimidation of our brothers in Yemen is the duty of everyone until Yemenis gain their victory,” Al-Samaani said.

Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) President Dr. Jamaan Ragosh said the Kingdom’s action under its wise leadership is a message sent by King Salman to those whose miscalculations lead them to harm the security, potentials and borders of the country.

The “decisive storm” campaign has brought the Arab citizen to wider horizon of optimism for a promising future for the Arab world in terms of dignity and unity of rank and word, he said.

Commending the operation inYemen, Dr. Ragosh said such bold steps will realize all aspirations of the Arab countries in general and Yemeni people in particular. “The operation will erase all forms of despair and pessimism that have accompanied the Arab nation for many years,” he said.

“The campaign was a decisive decision at a decisive time to realize decisive results,” Dr. Ragosh said.

The historic stance of King Salman was characterized by decisiveness and power he gained from Allah and his confidence on his brave forces and noble people, said business and writers. The “decisive storm” operation is meant to protect the interests of Yemen and the region in general against chaos which could have spread in the region if the Houthi militia overran Yemen, one writer said.

Head of Information Department at the King Saud University, Prince Naif bin Thunayyan, said, “King Salman has embodied the meaning of brotherhood and Islamic chivalry in siding with a Muslim in times of hardship through his launching of the “decisive storm” operation” he said.

He said King Salman, the man of visionary and determination, responded instantly to the call of brothers in Yemen to put an end to bloodshed and destruction brought by the Houthi militia to their country supported by foreign powers and intended to harm the land of the Two Holy Mosques.