Tehran: After dozens of civilians were killed and injured in Saudi Arabia-led air strikes on a missile depot in Yemeni capital, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday attributed the deadly campaign to Sunni Kingdom's “mental and emotional imbalance” due to its failures elsewhere in the Middle East.
Rouhani's harsh comments against Saudi come as 38 civilians were killed and over 500 injured in explosions caused by air strikes on a missile depot in Sanaa that levelled houses and shook neighbourhoods.
Slamming Saudi Arabia for the air strikes aimed at weakening the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Rouhani said that the Sunni Kingdom was going through “mental and emotional imbalance” due to its failures in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, reported a news agency.
Speaking to reporters before leaving for Indonesia, the Iranian President said, “All the failures have accumulated and caused mental and emotional imbalance for that country”.
A coalition of Sunni Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia launched the air campaign against the Huthi Shiite rebels last month, vowing to restore the authority of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled to Riyadh as the militiamen advanced on his southern refuge of Aden.
Iran long has accused Saudi Arabia of supporting militants, including the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Saudis accuse Iran of supporting Yemen’s Houthis, who overran the capital and later forced the country’s President into exile.
Shiite Iran long has accused Saudi Arabia of supporting Sunni militants, including the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. Saudis accuse Iran of supporting Yemen's Shiite rebels — who overran the capital and later forced the country's Western-backed president into exile.
With Agency Inputs
