Yemeni Foreign Minister Abdulmalek al-Mekhlafi hailed on Tuesday the Saudi-led Arab coalition that is combating militants in his country, saying that it has thwarted Iran’s ambitions.

He said: “The coalition has prevent Tehran from expanding its influence in Yemen.”

He made his remarks during a meeting with heads of Arab diplomatic missions in Algeria, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Mekhlafi said that the cooperation between various Arab forces in the coalition have helped liberate 80 percent of Yemeni territories from the clutches of the coup militias.

The Yemeni people refuse to be governed by various militias that are being controlled by regional powers that seek to target Arab national security, continued the minister.

The Yemeni government is acting responsibly towards its people and it seeks to achieve real and sustainable peace, he stressed.

The militias on the other hand, do not recognize any commitments or responsibilities towards the people and they do not care for their suffering, Mekhlafi added.

Furthermore, he blamed coup practices for the spread of famine in the regions that are under their control. He also held them accountable for the destruction of infrastructure and the outbreak of diseases, most notably cholera.

For their part, the Arab diplomats voiced the keenness of their countries on the achievement of peace in Yemen, expressing their support for the legitimate forces in the country and hoping that security and stability are restored.