Yemen’s president calls Shiite rebels ‘stooges of Iran’

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — Yemen’s embattled president has called Shiite rebels who forced him to flee the country “stooges of Iran,” directly blaming the Islamic Republic for the chaos there.

Other leaders obliquely referenced Iran earlier Saturday at the opening session of an Arab summit held in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Yemeni President Abdel Rabbo Mansour Hadi directly challenged Iran in his remarks. Hadi also called for his supporters to rise up in peaceful protest against the Shiite rebels, known as Houthis.

Iran and the Houthis deny that Tehran arms the rebel movement.

There’s an ongoing campaign of airstrikes led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen targeting the Houthis and their allies. Hadi said those strikes must continue until the Houthis surrender.

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Al-Haj reported from Sanaa, Yemen.