Asharq Al-Awsat- 23 March 2018- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held talks on Thursday with US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in Washington.

Mattis received the Saudi royal at the Pentagon where talks focused on regional affairs, including the war in Yemen.

Mattis said that Saudi Arabia was an integral part of the political solution in Yemen.

“The two officials discussed bilateral ties and strategic cooperation between their two countries.

They addressed defense and military affairs in regards to bolstering defense capabilities and deepening bilateral partnership according to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The Crown Prince emphasized the historic, strategic and institutional partnership between both countries, said a statement released by the Saudi Embassy in the US.

He also discussed various issues of interest, including joint Saudi-US counter-terrorism efforts and confronting Iran’s malign activities in the region.

Prince Mohammed stressed the need to end the Iran-backed Houthi militia’s campaign of chaos in Yemen, underlining the Kingdom’s efforts to support the Yemeni people through the Yemen Comprehensive Humanitarian Operation.