The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Statement by NSC Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan on the Situation in Yemen
March 25, 2015
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/25/statement-nsc-spokesperson-bernadette-meehan-situation-yemen

The United States strongly condemns ongoing military actions taken by the
Houthis against the elected government of Yemen. These actions have caused
widespread instability and chaos that threaten the safety and well-being of
all Yemeni citizens.

The United States has been in close contact with President Hadi and our
regional partners. In response to the deteriorating security situation,
Saudi Arabia, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, and others will
undertake military action to defend Saudi Arabia’s border and to protect
Yemen’s legitimate government. As announced by GCC members earlier tonight,
they are taking this action at the request of Yemeni President Abdo Rabbo
Mansour Hadi.

The United States coordinates closely with Saudi Arabia and our GCC partners
on issues related to their security and our shared interests. In support of
GCC actions to defend against Houthi violence, President Obama has
authorized the provision of logistical and intelligence support to GCC-led
military operations. While U.S. forces are not taking direct military
action in Yemen in support of this effort, we are establishing a Joint
Planning Cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate U.S. military and intelligence
support.

At the same time, the United States continues to closely monitor terrorist
threats posed by al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula and will continue to
take action as necessary to disrupt continuing, imminent threats to the
United States and our citizens.

We strongly urge the Houthis to halt immediately their destabilizing
military actions and return to negotiations as part of the political
dialogue. 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.