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Saudi Arabia begins air strikes against Houthi in Yemen US aiding Saudi air strikes against Houthi in Yemen
(about 1 hour later)
Saudi forces have launched air strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to sources in Washington, to try to dislodge their grip on the port city of Aden. The military offensive, launched with a number of other Gulf Arab allies, was carried out after consultation with the White House but was not thought to involve the US directly. The US is providing “logistical and intelligence support” to Saudi-led forces attacking rebels in Yemen, the White House has revealed.
In a sign of the broadening scope of Barack Obama’s intervention across the region, officials in Washington also said the US was establishing a “joint planning cell” with Saudi Arabia to co-ordinate the air strikes on the Houthi forces threatening to overthrow the Yemeni government.
Unlike recent attacks in Iraq and Syria, the US says none of its planes or troops are currently engaged in Yemen but insists the action is a legitimate response to the advances made by Houthi rebels.
“The United States strongly condemns ongoing military actions taken by the Houthis against the elected government of Yemen,” said National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. “These actions have caused widespread instability and chaos that threaten the safety and wellbeing of all Yemeni citizens.”
The US also claims a degree of international backing for the strikes although no formal United Nations mandate has been sought.
Meehan continued: “The international community has spoken clearly through the UN security council and in other fora that the violent takeover of Yemen by an armed faction is unacceptable and that a legitimate political transition – long sought by the Yemeni people – can be accomplished only through political negotiations and a consensus agreement among all of the parties.
“We strongly urge the Houthis to halt immediately their destabilizing military actions and return to negotiations as part of the political dialogue.”
Earlier, Washington sources said Saudi forces had launched air strikes against Houthi rebels to try to dislodge their grip on the port city of Aden. The Saudis acted after consultation with the White House, officials said.
In a rare press conference, the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Adel al-Jubeir, told reporters that a 10-country coalition had joined the military campaign in a bid “to protect and defend the legitimate government” of Yemen’s president, Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. He declined to give any information on Hadi’s whereabouts.In a rare press conference, the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Adel al-Jubeir, told reporters that a 10-country coalition had joined the military campaign in a bid “to protect and defend the legitimate government” of Yemen’s president, Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. He declined to give any information on Hadi’s whereabouts.
The Saudi-led air campaign against the Houthis in Yemen has been called “the storm of resolve”, according to local reports.The Saudi-led air campaign against the Houthis in Yemen has been called “the storm of resolve”, according to local reports.
Jubeir said the Houthis, widely believed to be backed by Iran, “have always chosen the path of violence”. He declined to say whether the Saudi campaign involved assistance from US intelligence.Jubeir said the Houthis, widely believed to be backed by Iran, “have always chosen the path of violence”. He declined to say whether the Saudi campaign involved assistance from US intelligence.
He said the Saudis “will do anything necessary” to protect the people of Yemen and “the legitimate government of Yemen.”He said the Saudis “will do anything necessary” to protect the people of Yemen and “the legitimate government of Yemen.”
Jubeir said Saudi Arabia launched the attack “in response to [a] request from the legitimate Yemen government” and insisted it would be a limited operation “designed to protect the people of Yemen and its legitimate government from a takeover by the Houthis”.Jubeir said Saudi Arabia launched the attack “in response to [a] request from the legitimate Yemen government” and insisted it would be a limited operation “designed to protect the people of Yemen and its legitimate government from a takeover by the Houthis”.
“The [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries tried to facilitate a peaceful transition of government in Yemen, but the Houthis have continuously undercut the process,” he said. “Based on the appeal from President Hadi, and based on the kingdom’s responsibility to Yemen and its people, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with its allies within the GCC and outside the GCC, launched military operations in support of the people of Yemen and their legitimate government,” he added. “The [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries tried to facilitate a peaceful transition of government in Yemen but the Houthis have continuously undercut the process,” he said. “Based on the appeal from President Hadi, and based on the kingdom’s responsibility to Yemen and its people, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, along with its allies within the GCC and outside the GCC, launched military operations in support of the people of Yemen and their legitimate government,” he added.
In a statement published by the Saudi press agency, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain said they would answer a request from Hadi “to protect Yemen and his dear people from the aggression of the Houthi militias which were and are still a tool in the hands of foreign powers that don’t stop meddling with the security and stability of brotherly Yemen”. Oman, the sixth member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, was not a signatory to the statement. In a statement published by the Saudi press agency, the countries of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain said they would answer a request from Hadi “to protect Yemen and his dear people from the aggression of the Houthi militias which were and are still a tool in the hands of foreign powers that don’t stop meddling with the security and stability of brotherly Yemen”. Oman, the sixth member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, was not a signatory to the statement.
Egypt also said it was providing political and military support for the anti-Houthi operation.Egypt also said it was providing political and military support for the anti-Houthi operation.
An unnamed Houthi leader told al-Jazeera that military operations would drag the region into a wider war.An unnamed Houthi leader told al-Jazeera that military operations would drag the region into a wider war.
Earlier, Houthi rebels seized al-Anad airbase, which lies between Taiz – Yemen’s third largest city, which fell under rebel control last week – and Hadi’s stronghold of Aden, in a renewed push for control of the country’s south. The advance set the stage for a confrontation between Iran, which backs the rebels also known as Ansar Allah, and regional powers eager to halt the broadening of the Islamic Republic’s regional influence.Earlier, Houthi rebels seized al-Anad airbase, which lies between Taiz – Yemen’s third largest city, which fell under rebel control last week – and Hadi’s stronghold of Aden, in a renewed push for control of the country’s south. The advance set the stage for a confrontation between Iran, which backs the rebels also known as Ansar Allah, and regional powers eager to halt the broadening of the Islamic Republic’s regional influence.
Yemen’s descent into chaos also complicates American efforts to fight al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the jihadi group that has been repeatedly targeted by US drone strikes and which the Houthis also see as an enemy. Yemen’s descent into chaos also complicates American efforts to fight al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the jihadi group that has been repeatedly targeted by US drone strikes and is also seen as an enemy by the Houthis.
The rebels, members of the Zaydi offshoot of Shia Islam, seized control of the capital, Sana’a, last year and placed Hadi under house arrest. He fled to Aden this month.The rebels, members of the Zaydi offshoot of Shia Islam, seized control of the capital, Sana’a, last year and placed Hadi under house arrest. He fled to Aden this month.
Hadi’s whereabouts were the subject of conflicting reports on Wednesday. Yemeni security and port officials told Associated Press that he had left the country with his aides on a boat from the port of Aden. They would not disclose Hadi’s destination; he is scheduled to attend an Arab summit in Egypt at the weekend.Hadi’s whereabouts were the subject of conflicting reports on Wednesday. Yemeni security and port officials told Associated Press that he had left the country with his aides on a boat from the port of Aden. They would not disclose Hadi’s destination; he is scheduled to attend an Arab summit in Egypt at the weekend.
However, Yemen’s foreign minister and presidential sources told Reuters that the president remained in Aden. Another presidential aide told AFP that he had been rushed to a “secure location”.However, Yemen’s foreign minister and presidential sources told Reuters that the president remained in Aden. Another presidential aide told AFP that he had been rushed to a “secure location”.
The US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a briefing: “We were in touch with him earlier today. He is no longer at his residence. I’m not in position to confirm any additional details from here about his location.”The US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters at a briefing: “We were in touch with him earlier today. He is no longer at his residence. I’m not in position to confirm any additional details from here about his location.”
“This is all about Sunni v Shia, Saudi v Iran,” said Michael Lewis, professor at Ohio Northern University College of Law and a former navy fighter pilot who watches Yemen closely. The US, he said, “can’t be a disinterested observer. Nobody’s going to buy that. What we needed to do was pick a side.” Michael Lewis, professor at Ohio Northern University College of Law and a former navy fighter pilot who watches Yemen closely, said before the White House confirmed its involvement: “This is all about Sunni v Shia, Saudi v Iran. [The US] can’t be a disinterested observer. Nobody’s going to buy that. What we needed to do was pick a side.”