(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Support to the Saudi-led "Decisive Storm" military campaign on Houthi militias to halt their aggression on Yemeni people and constitutional institutions has dominated speeches of Arab leaders attending the 26th Arab Summit, held Saturday.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the summit, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah reiterated Kuwait's backing to the campaign, stressing that the Houthi militias' aggressive acts posed a threat to the region's security, stability and sanctity of the regional states and their peoples.
"My country Kuwait has declared support and full stance on side of our brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the other brothers in the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council, regarding its right to defend itself," he said.
His Highness also noted that that the solid Kuwaiti stance in support of Riyadh came after diplomatic efforts to resolve the Yemeni crisis reached a dead-end, adding that it followed a request by the Yemeni president for Arab and GCC support, as well as in activation of the joint GCC and Arab defense treaties in addition to the UN charter that stipulates necessity of taking all necessary procedures to protect international peace and security.
The Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz said the Houthi militias in Yemen were backed by foreign powers to destabilize the region.
"The Houthi militias have elicited foreign powers' support to threaten the region's security," he said.
He said the interference of regional forces in the affairs of the Arab nation have created a "painful Arab reality." King Salman vowed that an ongoing Saudi-led military operation in Yemen will not stop before Yemeni people observed security and stability was restored in the country that borders Saudi Arabia.
He called on the Houthi militias to return the state's arms, warning that the "Houthi aggression" posed a grave threat to the security of the Arab region.
In the meantime, he said "Riyadh opens its doors to all Yemeni political factions willing to ensure the security of Yemen," going on to point out the necessity of reinstating the internationally-backed Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative for political reform in Yemen.
For his part, Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi called on the Saudi-led coalition to continue the bombing campaign in his country until the "Houthi gangs surrender.
"This operation comes to protect the Yemeni people," he said, describing Houthis as "Iranian dolls" that destroyed the country.
He thanked all nations that took part in the military campaign which he said was aimed at "supporting the Yemeni legitimacy." He called on his fellow countrymen to stand by the constitutional legitimacy.
Egyptian President Abdelfatah Al-Sisi said the ongoing Arab move to help Yemen was "imperative," accusing some "external parties" of capitalizing on the domestic circumstances of Arab countries to interfere in their affairs.
Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani argued that the Houthi militias and the former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh shoulder the responsibility for the recent escalation of violence in Yemen.
He appealed to all political factions in Yemen to respect the legitimacy of the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and withdraw all militias from public places and government agencies and resume a fruitful dialogue for a political settlement.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian President confirmed his support of the "Decisive Strom" operation.
He also stressed the importance of responding to the dialogue call in Yemen to attain safety and security in the country and preserve unity of its lands.
Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa said that his country answered Saudi King Salman's call to contribute to "Operation Decisive Storm" which aimed at protecting the Yemeni people and their legitimate leadership.
The military operation, which won Arab and international backing, "has been a decisive measure and a historic responsibility," he said, and complied with Arab League charter and Arab Defense Treaty.
The military operation, added King Hamad, was carried out after failure of all diplomatic means.
In the Meantime, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attempts by the Houthis and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to undermine political agreements by military force.
He noted that the military action against Houthis was carried out upon a request by legitimate President Hadi, underlining the significance of coordination between the UN and the Arab League.
Arab League Secretary General Nabil Al-Araby has expressed hopes the "Decisive Storm" campaign against Houthi militias in Yemen would be a springboard for a new stage of effective Arab action in dealing with threats.
Al-Araby reiterated his "full support" to the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other members of the alliance for the defense of legitimacy in Yemen.
This Saudi-led campaign "was inevitable to protect Yemeni people and legitimate government", Al-Araby said.
He argued that the Decisive Storm campaign was launched upon a request from President Hadi after the failure of all efforts exerts to stop Houthi militias' transgression and their coup against the legitimate Yemen leadership.
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi voiced his concern towards outcomes of recent events in Yemen, confirming his country's full support of the legitimate authority in Yemen, as well as preserving its safety and stability.
Mauritanian President Mohammad Ould Abdulaziz also valued Arab and international efforts exerted to overcome radical organizations that pose a great threat to the international peace, affirming his country's stand by all efforts toward reinstating legitimacy in Yemen.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud affirmed his country's stand by legitimacy of Yemeni President Hadi, expressing his objection to attempts of minimizing this legitimacy.
On March 26th morning, a Saudi-led coalition of more than 10 countries began military operations to protect the people of Yemen and their legitimate government from the advancing Houthi militas.
The military intervention, dubbed "Decisive Storm," was carried out at the request of the Yemeni government. Yemen has been gripped by increased turmoil since the Houthi rebels overran the capital, Sanaa, in September.
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