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| Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen as fears grow of a land invasion | Saudi Arabia bombs Yemen as fears grow of a land invasion |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| SANAA, Yemen — Saudi Arabia launched intense airstrikes on neighboring Yemen on Thursday, as part of a bold Arab-led offensive against Shiite rebels that threatened to expand into a war involving ground troops. | SANAA, Yemen — Saudi Arabia launched intense airstrikes on neighboring Yemen on Thursday, as part of a bold Arab-led offensive against Shiite rebels that threatened to expand into a war involving ground troops. |
| Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies plunged into the Yemen crisis after a rebel advance forced the country’s Western-backed president to flee and left the Shiite insurgents, known as Houthis, on the brink of controlling the country’s two largest cities. | Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies plunged into the Yemen crisis after a rebel advance forced the country’s Western-backed president to flee and left the Shiite insurgents, known as Houthis, on the brink of controlling the country’s two largest cities. |
| The Yemeni battles have flared into a balance-of-power showdown between Shiite power Iran, which is believed to back the Houthi rebels, and Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies. | The Yemeni battles have flared into a balance-of-power showdown between Shiite power Iran, which is believed to back the Houthi rebels, and Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies. |
| The offensive quickly divided the Middle East, with Shiite powers like the Iranian and Iraqi government and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia denouncing the bombing. Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, told Iran’s Arabic-language al-Alam channel that “We will spare no effort to contain the crisis in Yemen.” Meanwhile Sunni-majority countries offered assistance ranging from logistical aid to fighter jets. | The offensive quickly divided the Middle East, with Shiite powers like the Iranian and Iraqi government and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia denouncing the bombing. Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, told Iran’s Arabic-language al-Alam channel that “We will spare no effort to contain the crisis in Yemen.” Meanwhile Sunni-majority countries offered assistance ranging from logistical aid to fighter jets. |
| There were indications that the battle could expand to a land war. Saudi state TV said Thursday that a ground offensive was being studied, but gave no further details. Egypt’s minister of foreign affairs, Sameh Shoukri, said in a speech to Arab foreign ministers that Egypt was willing “to send ground forces if necessary” to back the anti-Houthi fight. | There were indications that the battle could expand to a land war. Saudi state TV said Thursday that a ground offensive was being studied, but gave no further details. Egypt’s minister of foreign affairs, Sameh Shoukri, said in a speech to Arab foreign ministers that Egypt was willing “to send ground forces if necessary” to back the anti-Houthi fight. |
| Four Egyptian naval vessels were expected to arrive off Yemen’s coast later Thursday. The Associated Press quoted unidentified Egyptian security and military officials as saying that Saudi Arabia and Egypt would lead a ground operation in Yemen, with troops arriving by land from Saudi Arabia and by sea from the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. The officials did not say when the offensive might start. | Four Egyptian naval vessels were expected to arrive off Yemen’s coast later Thursday. The Associated Press quoted unidentified Egyptian security and military officials as saying that Saudi Arabia and Egypt would lead a ground operation in Yemen, with troops arriving by land from Saudi Arabia and by sea from the Red Sea and Arabian Sea. The officials did not say when the offensive might start. |
| A ground invasion would be aimed at forcing the rebels to reach a power-sharing agreement, the news agency reported. | A ground invasion would be aimed at forcing the rebels to reach a power-sharing agreement, the news agency reported. |
| Saudi Arabia has mobilized a major force, suggesting it was prepared for a sustained fight. Up to 10 states are believed to be participating in the Saudi-led coalition, although nearly all have refrained from acknowledging their role. | Saudi Arabia has mobilized a major force, suggesting it was prepared for a sustained fight. Up to 10 states are believed to be participating in the Saudi-led coalition, although nearly all have refrained from acknowledging their role. |
| In one exception, the government of Bahrain said Thursday that it had sent 12 fighter jets to participate as part of the Joint Peninsula Shield Forces. It said the decision to send them had been made “in response to a call” from Saudi King Salman. | In one exception, the government of Bahrain said Thursday that it had sent 12 fighter jets to participate as part of the Joint Peninsula Shield Forces. It said the decision to send them had been made “in response to a call” from Saudi King Salman. |
| Jordan’s Petra News Agency, quoting unnamed “official” sources, said that Jordan was also taking part in the operation. The report made no mention of the form of Jordan’s aid, which is believed to be a contribution of jet fighters. The agency said that the source declined to comment on Jordan’s “participation in ground military operations.” | |
| The United States — which viewed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi as a key partner in the fight against Yemen’s al-Qaeda branch — has offered intelligence help and other logistical support as part of a “joint planning cell” with the Saudi-led force. | |
| Saudi officials have said they are seeking to restore Hadi to power. Hadi had been driven out of the capital, Sanaa, in January and then abandoned his last outpost in the southern port of Aden on Wednesday. He resurfaced on Thursday at an air base in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, where he was met by Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the son of the Saudi king. | |
| [Who are the Houthis?] | [Who are the Houthis?] |
| The Saudi-led attacks began in the early hours of Thursday. Saudi fighter jets attacked the Dailami air force base in Sanaa, which is under the control of the Houthis, hitting the runways and destroying four Yemeni air force planes. In the south, the invading forces pounded Alanad military base, where 100 U.S. Special Operations troops had been working until a pullout earlier this week. | The Saudi-led attacks began in the early hours of Thursday. Saudi fighter jets attacked the Dailami air force base in Sanaa, which is under the control of the Houthis, hitting the runways and destroying four Yemeni air force planes. In the south, the invading forces pounded Alanad military base, where 100 U.S. Special Operations troops had been working until a pullout earlier this week. |
| There were also airstrikes in the northern province of Saada, apparently aimed at hitting the Houthi leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi. | |
| At least 23 people were killed in the attacks, according to a Yemen Ministry of Health official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment. They included six children and four women, he said. At least 47 people were wounded, he said. | |
| “This morning was horrific. We woke up to the sounds of heavy shelling,” said Salah Mohammed, 35, an airline employee who lives near the Sanaa air force base, which is also located near the civilian airport. As explosions rang out, he said, he ran upstairs in his family home to bring his mother, sisters and children to safety. | “This morning was horrific. We woke up to the sounds of heavy shelling,” said Salah Mohammed, 35, an airline employee who lives near the Sanaa air force base, which is also located near the civilian airport. As explosions rang out, he said, he ran upstairs in his family home to bring his mother, sisters and children to safety. |
| “We all stayed in the hall downstairs as the heavy shelling and sounds of the antiaircrafts started to intensify. The electricity was off and I had no idea what was going on. The children were crying and we were all worried,” he said. | |
| After the attacks subsided, he said, he went out to inspect the damage. At least six houses near the airport were destroyed, he said. “I am very angry about what happened,” he said. “We reject such actions, and this is an invasion.” | After the attacks subsided, he said, he went out to inspect the damage. At least six houses near the airport were destroyed, he said. “I am very angry about what happened,” he said. “We reject such actions, and this is an invasion.” |
| Other residents, however, said they were glad the Saudis had launched the operation. | |
| “I oppose any foreign military interference,” said Osama Muhsin Alabdali, 34, a supervisor in a telecommunications company. “However, I am also glad that the Houthis are being stopped, especially since they started moving toward the south.” | “I oppose any foreign military interference,” said Osama Muhsin Alabdali, 34, a supervisor in a telecommunications company. “However, I am also glad that the Houthis are being stopped, especially since they started moving toward the south.” |
| Supporters of the Houthis joined a big protest in Sanaa on Thursday condemning the attacks. In Taiz, a city in the south recently seized by the Houthis, residents flocked to a demonstration supporting the Saudi attacks. Some even carried pictures of King Salman, and signs saying “Thank you, Saudi Arabia,” according to images shown on regional TV. | Supporters of the Houthis joined a big protest in Sanaa on Thursday condemning the attacks. In Taiz, a city in the south recently seized by the Houthis, residents flocked to a demonstration supporting the Saudi attacks. Some even carried pictures of King Salman, and signs saying “Thank you, Saudi Arabia,” according to images shown on regional TV. |
| Hadi has been a key ally of Saudi Arabia and the United States, which has depended on his government to support its efforts against Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. AQAP holds patches of the country and views the Houthis as foes in the competition for influence and Yemen’s modest oil wealth. U.S. efforts included training of Yemeni special operations forces and drone strikes. | Hadi has been a key ally of Saudi Arabia and the United States, which has depended on his government to support its efforts against Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. AQAP holds patches of the country and views the Houthis as foes in the competition for influence and Yemen’s modest oil wealth. U.S. efforts included training of Yemeni special operations forces and drone strikes. |
| Hadi’s government had appealed for military intervention from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is anchored by the Saudis and includes Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. In an emergency meeting last weekend, Yemen also called on the United Nations to authorize foreign armed forces to enter its territory. | Hadi’s government had appealed for military intervention from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is anchored by the Saudis and includes Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. In an emergency meeting last weekend, Yemen also called on the United Nations to authorize foreign armed forces to enter its territory. |
| According to the Egyptian state newspaper El Ahram, Egypt has sent four naval warships to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. An anonymous military source quoted by the paper stated that the naval vessels were going to “secure the theater” to maintain control of Egyptian territorial waters, but that they were on alert “to intervene in any way deemed necessary by the armed forces.” | |
| Shoukri, the Egyptian minister, said in a speech that “if we do not act quickly [the Houthi advance] will prove to be a threat to the security of all Arab nations.” | |
| [Pentagon loses track of $500 million in weapons, equipment given to Yemen] | [Pentagon loses track of $500 million in weapons, equipment given to Yemen] |
| In Switzerland, Secretary of State John F. Kerry took time away from nuclear talks with Iran to join a telephone conference with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council. | In Switzerland, Secretary of State John F. Kerry took time away from nuclear talks with Iran to join a telephone conference with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council. |
| Meanwhile, financial markets reacted to the fast-moving events in Yemen, with many stock exchanges falling and global oil prices surging. | Meanwhile, financial markets reacted to the fast-moving events in Yemen, with many stock exchanges falling and global oil prices surging. |
| Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya News reported that Saudi Arabia had deployed 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and other navy units. Saudi Arabia has massed troops and tanks on its border with Yemen. | Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya News reported that Saudi Arabia had deployed 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and other navy units. Saudi Arabia has massed troops and tanks on its border with Yemen. |
| Saudi Arabia last launched military action in Yemen in 2009, conducting airstrikes against the Houthis near the Saudi border after it said its border guards had been fired upon. | Saudi Arabia last launched military action in Yemen in 2009, conducting airstrikes against the Houthis near the Saudi border after it said its border guards had been fired upon. |
| . | . |
| Heba Habib in Cairo, Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. | Heba Habib in Cairo, Daniela Deane in London and Brian Murphy and Karen DeYoung in Washington contributed to this report. |