Rubio: Committed to Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia, Its Right to Self-Defense

- What is happening in Yemen is a counteroffensive to reclaim territories seized by the Houthis

- Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government will not accept the continued Houthi control of areas near the Bab al-Mandab strait

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed the United States’ commitment to its defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, stressing that Washington intends to honor its obligations toward the Kingdom.

Rubio stated that Saudi Arabia has been targeted by Houthi attacks and recognizes the threat they pose, emphasizing that the Kingdom has the right to defend itself.

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He added that Saudi Arabia and Yemeni forces do not want the Houthis to maintain control over areas near the Bab al-Mandab strait, noting that the current developments in Yemen represent a counteroffensive to reclaim territories seized by the Houthis, and that the United States had anticipated such developments.

Regarding recent U.S. military movements, Rubio said there should be no direct linkage between them and the threat that occurred last week at the British base in RAF Fairford.