RIYADH: The new acting commander of the joint forces in Yemen, Lt. Gen. Mutlaq Al-Azima, visited field units stationed at Saudi Arabia’s southern border on Monday. Lt. Gen. Al-Azima met leaders of the units, and members of the armed forces and the Arab coalition support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government.  He was also briefed on military operations and their support by the joint forces command to maintain security and stability in the region. Lt. Gen. Al-Azima praised the soldiers “brave and heroic stances in defending their religion, sovereignty and homeland.” King Salman issued a decree last week assigning Lt. Gen. Al-Azima, who is deputy chief of the general staff, to carry out the work of the commander of the joint forces of the Arab coalition. The conflict in Yemen was sparked in 2014 by the Iran-backed Houthi militia when it seized the capital Sanaa.