News / Yemen

Iranophobia aimed at diverting attention from Israel: Houthi leader

Friday, 23 June 2017 12:26 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 23 June 2017 12:50 AM ]

Leader of Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi speaks in a live televised speech on the occasion of International Quds Day on June 23, 2017.

Leader of Yemen's Ansarullah movement Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi has slammed the ongoing efforts to divert attention from Israel’s hostile policies by inciting Iranophobia among regional countries.

In a live televised speech to the Yemeni people on the occasion of International Quds Day early Friday, Houthi hailed Iran and Syria for supporting the regional resistance movements and underlined the need for a united front against Israel.

Some US allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia, have repeatedly accused Iran of supporting terrorism, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledging that his country "will work to have the battle in Iran.”

Iran has vehemently denied the allegations, stressing that Tehran uses its defense program as a deterrent endeavor to contribute to the regional stability and security and the fight against terror.

US President Donald Trump (R) and Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman speak to the media in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, March 14, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

The Ansarullah leader, whose country has been fighting a deadly war waged by a Saudi-led coalition since March 2015, noted that Israel’s positions with regard to some Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, imply a level of unity and common interest between Tel Aviv and those states.

Israel seeks a deal with Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, as a prerequisite for any agreement to resolve the decades-long conflict with the Palestinians.

On Thursday, Israel’s minister of military affairs Avigdor Lieberman underlined the need for "a full regional agreement” with what he called “all moderate Sunni states, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.”

Citing unnamed Arab and American sources, The Times reported last week that Saudi Arabia and the Israeli regime were in clandestine talks to establish official economic relations for the first time since the entity was created on the Palestinian territories some 69 years ago.

Read more:

Saudi, Israel to open economic ties: Report

Separately on Thursday, Israel's Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz called on Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Riyadh to establish full diplomatic relations.

He further called for creating "an access vis-a-vis Iran" jointly with the Saudis.

The Israeli regime also signaled that it welcomes Saudi King Salman’s Wednesday decree to replace Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud with his own son Mohammed bin Salman.

Communications Minister Ayoub Kara said the move “means more economic cooperation in the Middle East, and not just regarding oil.”

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