Conflict in Yemen is not a proxy war: Saudi official

The fighting in Yemen is not a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S said Sunday.

"I would describe it as a war of necessity," said Ambassador Adel Al-Jubeir said on CBS. "We had no choice. We tried every possible way to avoid it."

Houthi rebels, who are Shiite Muslims and are backed by Iran, have overrun parts of Yemen. Saudi Arabia, with a coalition of nine other Arab countries, has launched a military campaign against the rebels to restore stability.

"They continued to take over the country," Al-Jubeir said. "When they were virtually about to take over the city ... we had to step in."

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