Iran blasts Saudi involvement in Yemen

TEHRAN, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Fundamentalist Iranian cleric Ahmad Jannati blasted Saudi Arabia for its involvement in the Yemeni conflict with Shiite al-Houthi rebels.

Ayatollah Jannati, the secretary of the 12-member Guardian Council, lashed out over the recent aerial bombardments and cross-border attacks on rebel outposts along the Yemeni border with Saudi Arabia, the Tehran Times reports.

"Why is Saudi Arabia sending airplanes to oppress Shiites?" he asked.

Jannati said it was inappropriate for the Yemeni government to wage war on the Shiite population in its country, who he said were trying to reverse the discriminatory policies of the Sunni government in Sanaa.

Yemen in early August launched a major military offensive against al-Houthi rebels. The government accuses the rebel group of attempting to establish an Islamic state in the region.

The conflict threatens to spill over to engulf other states in the region. Yemen blames regional affiliations from Iran to Egypt for backing the rebel fighters.

Five Saudi soldiers were wounded and two were killed during weekend skirmishes with al-Houthi rebels along the Saudi-Yemeni border.

Saudi naval forces have patrolled the Red Sea in recent days, capturing ships allegedly carrying rebel fighters.

Riyadh said it decided to enter the conflict when rebels crossed the porous mountain border into Saudi Arabia and attacked security officials at border outposts.