Malaysia Strongly Rejects Saudi Allegation about Joining Coalition against Yemen

TEHRAN (FNA)- Both the Malaysian Defense Minister and Armed Forces commander categorically dismissed the Saudi media reports alleging that the Malaysian Armed Forces have joined the Riyadh-led coalition against Yemen. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said Malaysian troops now in Saudi Arabia are there to help in evacuations, in reaction to a report in the Saudi Gazette that Malaysia was joining a coalition led by the Saudis in its offensive against Yemen. The Saudi Gazette report, quoting the official Saudi Arabia state news agency, did not provide the number of Malaysian troops who had arrived in Riyadh or whether they were ground troops or air force personnel. Hishammuddin, however, on Twitter last night said that the troops were only there to assist in humanitarian and evacuation missions, as there were still Malaysian students there. Meanwhile, Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin said the sole mission of the Malaysian troops in Saudi Arabia is to facilitate the safe and smooth evacuation of the remaining Malaysian citizens in Yemen. "Two of our Royal Malaysian Air Force C-130 Transport Aircraft will be positioned at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. "The FOB has been established at the PSAB as a ‘firm ground’ before departing to the evacuation location. "Subsequently, our Malaysian citizens will be evacuated and returned to the FOB for safe passage to Malaysia." Saudi Arabia launched its bombing campaign against Yemen on March 26 in an attempt to restore power to fugitive President Mansour Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh. Hadi stepped down in January and refused to reconsider the decision despite calls by Ansarullah revolutionaries of the Houthi movement. Despite Riyadh's claims that it is bombing the positions of the Ansarullah fighters, Saudi warplanes are flattening residential areas and civilian infrastructures. The Monarchy's attacks have so far claimed the lives of at least 3,623 civilians, mostly women and children.