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Iran urges Saudi Arabia to pursue diplomacy with Ansar Allah

 


Iran has urged rival Saudi Arabia to pursue a diplomatic solution to its escalating conflict with the Ansar Allah in Yemen, warning that continued military action would only worsen the situation.
'Insisting on a military approach and disregarding a political solution would only further complicate the situation,' Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, during a telephone call, according to a statement from Tehran.
Iran was prepared to 'provide any form of support' to help initiate talks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
The conflict between Saudi Arabia and Ansar Allah escalated sharply over the weekend.
More than a dozen people were killed and hundreds injured in the most serious attack to date on Riyadh's international airport, according to officials.
The Ansar Allah claimed responsibility and warned that Saudi airports and airspace were 'legitimate targets.' The militia said it had launched ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at airports and energy facilities, including sites belonging to state-owned oil giant Aramco.
The Ansar Allah also accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out more than 120 airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, and other provinces within 24 hours. The claims could not be independently verified.