29 Mar 2024
Sunday 29 March 2015 - 00:50
Story Code : 157285

Rafsanjani views Saudi attack on Yemen as playing with fire

TEHRAN (FNA)- Chairman of Iran's Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Saturday voiced deep concern over the ongoing crisis in Yemen, and said the Saudi attack on Yemen means playing with fire.

"Unfortunately, some Arab countries on lame excuses and with aimless bombardments in Yemen have committed a clear and dangerous mistake and, in fact, they have started playing with fire," Rafsanjani said, addressing a group of Iranian officials in Tehran on Saturday.


He blasted the few Arab countries that have formed an anti-Yemen coalition led by Saudi Arabia, saying, "They have not taken the slightest effective action against the Quds occupying regime for over 50 years, but have become united against a regional Muslim state which is quite regrettable."


Earlier today, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian warned Saudi Arabia against the dire consequences of Yemen invasion, describing the move as "a strategic mistake".


"The Saudi military attack on Yemen is a strategic mistake," Amir Abdollahian said.


The Iranian deputy foreign minister also cautioned that the Saudi attack on Yemen's infrastructures and people is unacceptable.


Amir Abdollahian also cautioned that the Saudi aggression has negative consequences for the region and the Muslim World, and said, "Riyadh should not forget that Saudi Arabia's military presence in Bahrain has created a more complicated situation for the Bahraini people."


"Riyadh should not count on US support for its military invasion of Yemen," he added.


Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against Yemen and killed, at least, 25 civilians early Thursday, one day after the US-backed Yemeni president fled the country.


Also, 15 more people were killed and injured in a second round of massive attacks by the Saudi Arabian fighter jets in the Northwestern Yemeni city of Saada on Friday.


Yemens al-Massira TV reported that the Saudi air force targeted civilians who were shopping in a market.


On Thursday, the Iranian foreign ministry deplored the airstrike, calling it a "dangerous" move in violation of international obligations for respecting countries' national sovereignty.


"Resorting to military acts against Yemen which is entangled in an internal crisis and fighting terrorism will further complicate the situation, spread the range of crisis and destroy opportunities to settle the internal differences in Yemen peacefully," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said.


She underlined the necessity for implementing national agreements among the Yemeni groups and parties as soon as possible, and called for an immediate halt to air strikes and military acts against the Yemeni people and the country.


Afkham expressed concern about the spread of extremism and strengthening terrorism, and said, "This aggression will merely result in the spread of terrorism and extremism and will spread insecurity to the entire region."


Five Persian Gulf States -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait -- backed by the US have declared war on Yemen in a joint statement issued earlier Thursday.


US President Barack Obama authorized the provision of logistical and intelligence support to the military operations, National Security Council Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said late Wednesday night.


She added that while US forces were not taking direct military action in Yemen, Washington was establishing a Joint Planning Cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate US military and intelligence support.


Riyadh claimed that it has bombed the positions of the Ansarullah fighters and launched attacks against the Sana'a airport and the Dulaimi airbase.


Despite Riyadh's claims that it is attacking Ansarullah positions, Saudi warplanes have flattened a number of homes near Sanaa international airport.


By Fars News Agency



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