IN their Friday sermons, imams in several mosques across the Kingdom said Saudi Arabia's decision on the military operation in Yemen was timely and historic with Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque in Makkah Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais saying that the operation was in line with the Shariah principles. Al-Sudais said the Kingdom, being the land of the Two Holy Mosques, could not have become a silent spectator to the wrongs perpetuated in its neighboring country. It had to act decisively, he said. Under the Shariah regulations, the Kingdom is duty-bound to protect the religion, lives, the mind, property and honor of the people of Yemen. For Saudi Arabia, he said, security and stability of its neighbor is of paramount importance and as such restoration of the usurped legitimacy of the government was vital. Equally important, he said was to crush the the terrorist elements who are aided and abetted by a foreign country which has hostile ambitions and wants to have its hegemony in the whole region. Touching upon the dangers posed by deviant forces in Yemen, Al-Sudais wondered what would have happened if the Kingdom had not taken this brave stance against those who avowed to occupy the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. Al-Sudais said the security of the country of the Two Holy Mosques is a red line that no one is allowed to cross. “Whoever tries to violate this will be crushed and will never be pardoned,” he said. Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Abdulmuhsin Muhammad Al-Qasim focused on the bounties of security and belief (Iman). He said these two cannot be achieved unless a person believes in monotheism (Tawheed) and worships Allah alone and depends on Him in both good and difficult times. Imams across the Kingdom also stressed the importance of operation “Decisive Storm” in restoring legitimacy, security and stability in Yemen. Houthis on the defensive: Al-Asiri Relentless campaign by the Saudi-led forces in Yemen has put the Houthis on the defensive, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Asiri, coalition spokesman and advisor in the office of minister of defense, said in Riyadh. Addressing the daily news briefing, Asiri said about 100 sorties have been carried out by coalition forces during the last 24 hours hitting Houthi targets in several places. Finding no other alternative the Houthis are indulging in a sabotage operation targeting civilian areas and public places. The campaign, he said, is paying rich dividends as airstrikes are precise and to the mark. The targets are selected and specific to break the backbone of the Houthis, he said. The coalition forces are ensuring that disorganized and scattered Houthis are not able to regroup again. Meanwhile, Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh has said he would not leave the country, dismissing reports in the Gulf Arab media that he was seeking a safe exit. The United Nations, meanwhile, urged the world to provide $274 million in aid to help save lives and protect some 7.5 million people affected by the escalating conflict in Yemen. In a statement, the UN said that along with its partners in Yemen it needs the funds to purchase medical supplies, safe drinking water, food assistance, emergency shelter and provide logistical support. The United Nations said about 150,000 people have been driven from their homes by three weeks of airstrikes and ground fighting. Calls for ceasefire UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate halt to the fighting. But his special envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, quit after his plan to halt the war failed. Iran has called for immediate peace talks between Yemen's warring parties. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the appeal during a telephone call with UN chief, the IRNA news agency said. — With input from Agencies
