WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saudi Arabia has the right to defend itself against attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces.
Rubio also said the United States intends to honor its defense and security commitments to Saudi Arabia.
“The United States has a defense and security agreement with Saudi Arabia and we intend to live by it,” Rubio told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Rubio Addresses Fighting Near Bab Al-Mandab
Rubio was speaking as Saudi-backed Yemeni forces launched a major offensive against the Houthis.
The campaign focuses on areas near the strategic Bab Al-Mandab Strait. Yemeni government forces have reported gains in Dhubab and other areas near the maritime corridor. Reuters reported that Saudi airstrikes supported the offensive.
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Rubio said Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces do not want the Houthis to control territory close to Bab Al-Mandab.
He described the military campaign as a response to territory previously captured by the Houthis.
“The Saudis have come under Houthi attack,” Rubio said. “They have a right to defend themselves.”
He added that Yemeni government forces would seek to recover territory from which they had been pushed out.
US Keeps Details of Security Support Private
Rubio did not provide details about how Washington may support Saudi Arabia during the latest fighting.
Asked whether the United States had coordinated with Saudi Arabia over the offensive, Rubio referred to the existing defense and security agreement between the two countries.
He did not say whether US forces would take part directly in military operations.
The remarks came as the Saudi-led coalition continued military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has also reaffirmed its right to defend its territory and people against Houthi attacks.
Fighting Escalates Around Strategic Strait
The latest offensive has increased tensions around Bab Al-Mandab, a major maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi-backed Yemeni forces said they had regained several strategic areas around the strait. However, fighting continues on other fronts, including Taiz, where the Houthis have also made advances.
The Houthis have also claimed attacks against Saudi targets. Saudi authorities and coalition forces have continued operations aimed at protecting Saudi territory and maritime routes in the southern Red Sea.
The latest developments mark another escalation in Yemen’s long-running conflict and have raised concerns about security around one of the region’s most important shipping corridors
