International Shia News Agency

Gulf coalition launches airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen

SHAFAQNA – Saudi Arabia and its allies have launched airstrikes in Yemen against rebel Shiite Houthi forces gaining more ground. The mainly Gulf coalition, which also includes the US, is trying to help embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Thursday, March 26

07:57 GMT:

We have some video in of Saudi Arabian planes getting ready to carry out airstrikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen. The Kingdom has committed around 100 aircraft to help the Yemeni government in their fight against the Shia rebels.

07:46 GMT:

Pakistan said it has been asked by Saudi Arabia to provide troops to help fight Houthi rebels in Yemen. 

“We have been contacted by Saudi Arabia,” said spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam in response to a question about whether Pakistan would send troops. “The matter is being examined.”

07:41 GMT:

This map gives a good idea how much ground the Houthi rebels have managed to take, since they seized the capital Sanaa in September. Government forces re-took Aden airport on Thursday morning, which is right in the south of the country.

07:36 GMT:

Planes from Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain are all taking part in the airstrikes, while Egypt Pakistan, Jordan and Sudan have said they are willing to take part in a ground offensive.

07:33 GMT:

Saudi Arabia, which is leading the Gulf coalition against the Shiite Houthi rebels has deployed 150,000 soldiers to the military operation in Yemen, according to the al-Arabiya television channel.

07:27 GMT:

A Houthi official has said they do not need Iranian help in their conflict with Yemeni government forces and the nation’s Gulf allies. Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said “The Yemeni people are prepared to face this aggression without any foreign interference.” The Houthi rebels are loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

 

07:24 GMT:

China has given its reaction to events in Yemen, with the country’s foreign ministry saying it was deeply concerned about the situation in the country.

Military spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China urges all parties to act in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions on Yemen. Beijing also said that differences should be resolved through dialogue, rather than through violence.

07:19 GMT:

Iran has called the military operation led by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies as “US-backed aggression.” Iranian television broadcast pictures of some of the damage from the airstrikes, saying “many Yemeni citizens were killed in the U.S.-backed aggressions in Yemen,” Reuters reports.

Iran has denied providing money and training to Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.

07:13 GMT:

The Jordanian air force has joined the Saudi Arabian led coalition against rebel Houthi fighters in Yemen, according to an official source from Jordan.

 

“This is in line with supporting legitimacy in Yemen and it’s security and stability … Yemen and the Gulf’s security is a high strategic interest (for Jordan),” the source told Reuters.

07:01 GMT:

Yemen government forces loyal to President Abed-Rabbu Mansour Hadi have retaken Aden airport, following heavy clashes with rebel Houthi forces. Hadi’s troops lost control of the airport in the south of the country on Wednesday.

Source : RT

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