KSA, Kuwait discuss Yemen

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior, held talks in Riyadh with Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammed Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah. The talks were held in the presence of Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, chief of the royal court.
The talks focused on strengthening cooperation between the two GCC countries and the ongoing Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm against the Houthis to restore legitimacy in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
State Minister Musaed Al-Aiban, State Minister Saad Al-Jabari, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Sheikh Thamir bin Jabir Al-Sabah and senior commanders of the armed forces attended the talks.
Earlier on arrival at the airport in Riyadh, the two Kuwaiti ministers were received by Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other senior officials including Maj. Gen. Khaled Al-Rowdan, commander of Riyadh Air Base.
In a related development, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter held talks by telephone with Prince Mohammed bin Salman on progress of Operation Decisive Storm, SPA said.
Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said the Operation Decisive Storm was aimed at bringing Yemen back to normal and reinstate the country’s legitimate government.
“The continuation of the situation in Yemen is a big threat to the region’s security and stability and would lead to the country’s destruction,” Al-Jarallah said while opening the Latin America Week at Kuwait University.
“The situation in Yemen is dangerous and the GCC countries launched Operation Decisive Storm to bring the country back to normal and implement the GCC peace initiative,” he told the gathering attended by a number of Latin American ambassadors.
Meanwhile, a number of tribal leaders on the Saudi border with Yemen have expressed their solidarity with Operation Decisive Storm and predicted the end of the depredations of Houthis shortly. Saudi and Yemeni tribal leaders on both sides of the border have intensified their efforts to chock the Houthis and protect Yemeni citizens from their gunshots.
An informed source said the Houthis and supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh were exploiting the economic difficulties of some Yemeni tribes whom they provide with money in return for support.