Riyadh, December 22, 2021, SPA -- Statement by the Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki: “The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has followed the defamatory statements of Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, which were circulated by some media outlets on the Coalition’s Humanitarian stance in regards to evacuating Hassan Irlou, one of the IRGC officers, from Yemen. The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition, under the directives of the leadership in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, had commenced the facilitation of evacuating the aforementioned person for humanitarian considerations, and in recognition of the diplomatic mediation by the brotherly Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Iraq in less than 48 hours of reporting his health condition. These defamatory statements against the Kingdom contradict humanitarian values and principles, and do not value the Coalition’s noble and humane stance in evacuating the aforementioned person from (Sana’a) to (Basrah). These statements by Iranian officials are hardly surprising, and fall in line with the conduct of Iranian diplomacy that smuggled the aforementioned person into Yemen, who then began supporting chaos and fighting in Yemen. The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has facilitated and provided all necessary transit permits, as well as logistical support to the Iraqi Air Force (C-130) medevac aircraft. This is the second instance of evacuating an Iranian national who was associated with combat operations, following the evacuation of one of the crew of the Iranian military vessel (Saviz) in the Red Sea by the Royal Saudi Air Force, who was transported to receive medical attention for a long period of time at a Saudi hospital due to his deteriorating health condition. He was then medically evacuated to Muscat following mediation by the brotherly Sultanate of Oman in order to return him to his country (Iran). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Coalition will continue on their path of implementing the well-established humanitarian values and principles, despite the uncivilized, inhumane behavior of Iran. -- SPA 08:00 LOCAL TIME 05:00 GMT 0004 www.spa.gov.sa/w1668536