Kerry: Houthis Are to Blame for Resumption of Bombing in Yemen

Simultaneously with the remarks of the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who described Saudi Arabia's bombings in Yemen as 'brazen' and termed it 'the genocide of a nation', American officials attributed the resumption of these bombings to the Houthi rebels. On Monday, Saudi warplanes once again targeted Iranian-backed Houthi forces in Yemen; these attacks are resuming while various factions have called for a pause in the bombings to allow humanitarian aid to be sent. According to Reuters, John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, during a press conference in New York on Monday, April 26, regarding the recent cessation of bombings stated that 'Saudi Arabia's change in behavior... was based on the premise that people would stay in their places.' He added: 'However, the Houthis took advantage of the cessation of bombings and not only advanced further in Aden but also had movements in other areas of the country.' Mr. Kerry continued that he intends to discuss these issues with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, during their meeting on Monday evening. Kerry added in this context: 'I will certainly ask everyone to participate in reducing violence and to create conditions for the start of negotiations.' According to Reuters, the U.S. Secretary of State and other American officials say that Houthi rebels are moving their artillery and forces and have placed several elements of the Yemeni army within their range. Saudi Arabia and its allies are trying to prevent what they call 'Iran's influence expansion in the region' by bombing Houthi positions and restoring the ousted Yemeni president to power. The Islamic Republic of Iran has condemned these airstrikes and even threatened that Saudi Arabia's behavior in Yemen 'will not go unanswered.' On Monday, Mohammad Ali Jafari, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, referred to Saudi Arabia as 'traitorous' and said that this country has 'exactly followed in the footsteps of Israel' and, according to him, 'shamelessly and brazenly bombs and massacres a nation that seeks to negate the system of domination.' He urged the 'officials of the Islamic Republic' to abandon their so-called 'past caution' regarding this country. In this context, the Commander of the IRGC stated: 'The next waves of the Islamic Revolution will, God willing, overthrow the Al Saud.' The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister stated: 'Saudi Arabia's behavior in Yemen will not go unanswered.' Two American warships have exited Yemeni waters following the return of an Iranian convoy. The Saudi chargé d'affaires in Tehran was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.