The United States has discussed with Gulf allies including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to hold Yemen’s Houthi group accountable after the Iranian-backed fighters attacked the UAE for the second time in a week, the White House said.
“Today National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with both UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba and Saudi Ambassador to the United States Reema bint Bandar Al Saud to discuss ongoing Houthi attacks against civilian targets in the UAE and Saudi Arabia that have resulted in civilian casualties in both countries,” a White House readout said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden.
The talks come after the Houthis launched missiles targeting Abu Dhabi on Monday which were intercepted by U.S. forces stationed at a local military base.
The Ambassadors and Mr. Sullivan discussed “joint efforts to hold the Houthis accountable,” the statement said.
Mr. Sullivan “reiterated the United States’ commitment to the security of both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where tens of thousands of American citizens live and work. He also welcomed their commitment to supporting UN-led efforts to ultimately end the war in Yemen through a political process, and underscored the importance of all parties to the conflict abiding by their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
Last week, Yemen’s rebel Houthi movement carried out a military attack on the United Arab Emirates, attacking the airport in Abu Dhabi and an industrial area and killing three people.
Saudi Arabia suffered over 300 cross-border attacks from the Iran-backed Houthi groups in Yemen in the last year alone.
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday his administration is considering re-designating Yemen’s Houthi movement as an international terrorist organization following persistent drone attacks on civilians in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
