Saudi Arabia launches military operation in Yemen
26.03.2015
http://www.dw.de/saudi-arabia-launches-military-operation-in-yemen/a-18342272

Saudi Arabia has launched a military operation in Yemen, according to
Riyadh's ambassador to Washington. Five Gulf states have said they are
committed to protect Yemen from a Shiite Houthi takoever.

Saudi Arabia embarked on a military mission against Houthi rebels who have
taken over large swathes of neighboring Yemen, the kingdom's ambassador to
the US said on Wednesday.

"The operation is to defend and support the legitimate government of Yemen
and prevent the radical Houthi movement from taking over the country," Adel
al-Jubeir told reporters in Washington.

The envoy said the operation had started at 2 a.m. local time (2300 UTC).
The military action was announced as reports surfaced that President Abed
Rabbo Mansour Haddi had fled his Aden palace and left the country by boat,
although his aides denied the claim.

The Reuters news agency, quoting residents and a local official, reported
early on Thursday that warplanes had launched an attack on the airport of
the Yemeni capital Sanaa early.

'Coalition of states, including Gulf'

There was no immediate word on where the aircraft had come from. However,
the attack appeared to coincide with the Saudi announcement of a launch of
operations.

Ambassador al-Jubeir said several other Gulf states had pledged military
support in the fight against the Houthi rebels, following a request from
Hadi to his neighbors.

That claim came at the same time as a joint statement to the same end from
five countries - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.

The statement said the countries had "decided to answer the call of
President Hadi to protect Yemen and his people from the aggression of the
Shiite militia."

Yemen has become increasingly divided between a north dominated by Houthis
and a south largely controlled by Hadi supports.

Former President Ali Abdullah Selah, who resigned in 2012 after protests,
has been accused of backing the Houthi rebels in an effort to regain
influence.

rc/ipj (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)