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"United States Committed to Defending Saudi Arabia"
The United States is committed to defending Saudi Arabia, according to a senior American diplomat.
Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is speeding up the delivery of weapons to a Saudi-led coalition launching air strikes against Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen.
He also told reporters in the Saudi capital of Riyadh that Washington has increased its intelligence sharing and set up a joint coordination and planning cell in the Saudi operations centre overseeing the campaign.
He made the comments after meeting with senior Saudi royals and Yemen's president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled his country due to Houthi rebel advances and is currently seeking refuge in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Blinken said the US and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council must coordinate closely and press all parties to seek a consensual political solution.
The Houthis, who are opposed to President Hadi, have taken control of most of the country in recent months.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned of a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation in the country.
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