Obama: US shares Saudi concerns over instability in Yemen

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said the US shares Saudi Arabia's concerns about Yemen and the need to restore an inclusive and functioning government there. Obama and Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Salman met in the White House. The president said it's obviously a challenging time for the Middle East. Obama made the rare move of greeting the 79-year-old monarch at the doors of the White House, as he hailed the "longstanding friendship" between the two countries. In the Oval Office, Obama was effusive, saying he wanted to "once again reaffirm not only our personal friendship, but the deep and abiding friendship between our two people." For his part King Salman said his visit was a "symbol of the deep and strong relationship that we have with the United States." The US has been supporting Saudi airstrikes against the Iran-aided Houthi Shiite rebels, who are in a civil war with the US-recognized government. But the Obama administration also has expressed concerns about civilian casualties there. Salman says the US-Saudi relationship benefits the world. He sais Obama is a friend. King Salman said the Kingdom is willing to cooperate with the US to achieve stability in Mideast. President Obama said the US and Saudi Arabia continue to cooperate extremely closely to counter terrorism around the world including in the fight giants Daesh (the so-called IS). On Syria, President Obama said the US and Saudi Arabia share concerns about the Syrian crisis and will try for a political transition to end the conflict. The meeting comes as Saudi Arabia seeks assurances from the US that the Iran nuclear deal comes with an effort to check Iran's regional ambitions.