The Saudi-led air war on Yemen was launched to foil a plot by a "sectarian group" to undermine security in the region, King Salman said on Sunday. The Saudi monarch was defending the military operation Riyadh has led against Yemen rebels since March 26, in an address read to clerics on his behalf by an adviser in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.
The operation has prevented Yemen from "becoming a theatre for terrorism, discord, and internal fighting, similar to some countries," said Salman, in remarks published by the official SPA news agency. Saudi Arabia wanted to "support Yemen and confront the attempt to transform it into a base for launching a plot to undermine regional security and stability", he said.
The kingdom and members of the coalition began the campaign to "save Yemen and its brotherly people from a group entrenched with the spirit of sectarianism", Salman said, referring to the Shiite Huthi rebels.
He said the rebels had "threatened neighbouring countries, especially Saudi Arabia, with backing from foreign parties seeking to spread their influence across the region and sow sedition", implying Iran.