(MENAFN- Arab News) The battle in Yemen is between good and evil and not between Sunnis and Shiites a top Saudi diplomat has pointed out.
The Kingdom's goal is to protect the legitimate government in Yemen from a group supported by Iran and Hezbollah said Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir Saudi ambassador to the US.
Al-Jubeir was addressing a symposium at the US Congress on 'Chaos in Yemen: Analysis diagnosis and prospects'.
The National Council on US-Arab Relations in Washington organized the event.
The envoy also stressed the determination of the Saudi-led coalition to restore stability in Yemen.
He lashed out at Iran and Hezbollah for trying to depict the Yemen crisis as a sectarian conflict. Rejecting such claims the envoy charged that Iran and Hezbollah were behind the Houthi rebellion.
The Kingdom always tried to strengthen the role of the legitimate government in Yemen and maintain stability said the envoy.
'We did not want to launch this operation but we had no other choice but to respond to the request of Yemen President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi' he said.
Nowhere in history has a militia been able to possess heavy weapons ballistic missiles and aircraft he said. Those heavy weapons were now being targeted by the Saudi-led coalition he said.
Ambassador Al-Jubeir said that Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh allied with the Houthis was playing a negative role in Yemen.
The envoy also said the Houthis would not have been able to advance and take over cities without the support of Saleh Iran and Hezbollah.
'In Lebanon the Hezbollah militia controls a state and we do not want such a situation to develop in Yemen through Houthis' he said.
Al-Jubeir accused Houthis of intimidating Yemenis and seizing power. The Houthi ideology will not have a positive impact on Yemen he added. Coalition operations are continuing to achieve their objectives Al-Jubeir said.The Kingdom is one of the biggest supporters of Yemen's social and economic progress and infrastructure development he pointed out.
Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia's ongoing operations in Yemen enjoyed the support of all Gulf and Arab states. He denied the presence of Saudi troops in Aden explaining that sending ground forces remains a possible option.
'We are hopeful for the future prosperity of Yemen' he noted highlighting the Kingdom's commitment to help Yemen overcome its difficulties.
Saudi Arabia wants a stable government in Yemen and is keen on preserving its unity and territorial integrity said Al-Jubeir.