Since March, the US has been supporting a Saudi-led intervention against Yemen's Houthis, who have chased the country's US-recognized president into exile. But the Obama administration also is concerned about the conflict's rising death toll that is now in the thousands, while aid groups have lamented their inability to provide life-saving support to all Yemenis in need.
"We share concerns about Yemen and the need to restore a function government that is inclusive and that can relieve the humanitarian situation there," Obama told reporters who were allowed into the Oval Office for brief comments from both leaders. The meeting, Obama noted, was taking place at a "challenging time in world affairs, particularly in the Middle East," the Associated Press reported.
On Friday, 22 members of the United Arab Emirates' military were killed while fighting Houthis, the official news agency WAM said. It was believed to be the country's highest number of military casualties since its founding in 1971. Security officials loyal to Yemen's exiled president said the troops were killed when a Houthi missile hit a weapons storage depot.
Beyond Yemen, Saudi Arabia wants the US to increase support for Syrian militants seeking to topple President Bashar Assad's government after four-and-a-half years of civil war.
The visit of King Salman, who ascended the throne in January, is forcing the administration to address these concerns. To that end, Secretary of State John Kerry said this week that the US was working with its Arab allies in the Persian Gulf on a ballistic missile defense system, special operations training and large-scale military exercises.
King Salman, in brief remarks through an interpreter, characterized his visit as symbolic of the deep ties between the allies.
"I'm happy to come to a friendly country to meet a friend," he said. "We want to work together for world peace."