LONDON: Saudi Arabia is a key ally and cooperation with the Kingdom protects forces from the Houthis, the US State Department said on Thursday. The international community must stand up to the Iran-backed militia, which continues to obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people, the department said during a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The department also expressed its support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to achieve peace in Yemen and said it would prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Earlier on Thursday, US Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela Elliott Abrams said the US will slap new sanctions on a number of Iranian officials and entities, including a judge who sentenced Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari to death.