 |
| Yemeni capital Sanaa after Saudi Arabia-led strikes (Image: The National) |
Situation in a Gulf country Yemen remains extremely tense and dangerous,
threatening to turn into a full-scale war, as Saudi Arabia and its Arab Sunni
allies started massive military operation in Yemen against the Shia Houthi
militants, seeking to oust Yemeni President Adel-Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
Shia Houthi militias, apparently backed and supported by Iran, have
gained control over significant territories in Yemen, including Yemeni capital
of Sanaa, which they have seized back in September 2014, forcing Yemeni
President Adel-Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the city in February 2015 to the Southern
coastal city of Aden, where he established his government’s headquarters.
Before fleeing the city, Yemeni President and his Cabinet of Ministers were
forced to resign under the pressure of Houthis, but once they fled the city
they recalled their resignations, claiming to remain legitimate government of
the state.
After the deadly bombing of the mosques in Yemeni capital Sanaa, leaving
hundreds of dead, Houthis started to advance the city of Aden, seizing more and
more government-controlled cities and areas. Yemeni State TV was previously
taken by Houthis and came under their control as well, thus, it was broadcasted
that there will be a prize for capturing Yemeni President Hadi and his aides as
well.
 |
| Houthi rebels on the streets of Sanaa, Yemen (Image: Washington Post) |
On 24 March, right after deadly Sanaa bombings, Yemeni President Hadi
has called on UN Security Council to start an international military operation
in Yemen in order to save the country and to restore control. He also called
for imposing no-flight zone in Yemen as well.
Though later, on 25 March, Yemeni President Adel-Rabbo Mansour Hadi was
forced to flee the country as Houthis advanced his city of Aden and taken the
airport and come other strategic bases here. Aden was retaken later by the
forces loyal to the President, but the President himself has left the country,
reportedly taking the boat. Hadi’s whereabouts are not known exactly, though
there were reports that he fled Yemen to the neighboring Saudi Arabia. Member
of Hadi’s government have reportedly also left the country, though Houthis
declared earlier on Thursday, 25 March, that they captured Yemeni Defense
Minister on the South of the country.
Meanwhile, as the situation deteriorates significantly in a civil war
torn Yemen, Saudi Arabia declared start of a massive military operation in
Yemen aimed to restore control of the territory, stability and to protect
legitimate President Hadi. Arab allies have taken a decision during an
emergency meeting of Arab League held on Thursday, 25 March, to participate in
a massive military offensive against Shia Houthis in Yemen.
 |
| Saudi Arabia Defense Ministry meeting regarding Yemeni strikes (Image: Al-Jazeera) |
More than ten countries including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates,
Kuwait, Qatar, Sudan, Bahrain and Morocco have joined Saudi Arabia-led military
offensive in Yemen, while Pakistan also stated its readiness to join the
military operation. According to the officials, 100 warplanes were deployed for
the aerial offensive by Saudi Arabia Armed Forces, while 85 warplanes were
deployed by other Arab allies to take part in a massive military offensive
dubbed as “Storm of Resolve”. Meanwhile, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan and Pakistan
stated they are ready to participate in a ground offensive to be held in Yemen,
what could be needed later, in order to restore order and security on Yemeni
territory.
Thus, Saudi Arabian and Arab allies’ warplanes struck Sanaa where the
strongholds of Shia Houthi militias, seeking to oust Yemeni President Hadi, are
located. The warplanes bombed Sanaa airport and also nearby Al-Dulaimi military
air base of Houthis in attempt to weaken Houthis’ power and ability to strike
the missiles as well. Eyewitnesses of an aerial attacks said that at least four
or five houses located close to this zone were also destroyed.
 |
| Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Egyptian President ((mage: Daily News of Egypt) |
As for the death toll, 13 people including a doctor from a bombed
hospital were officially declared to be killed as a result of a massive
military strike. There are dozens of injured as well, while the footage from
Yemeni capital show terrible devastation after the offensive.
Saudi Arabia officials stated that they and their Arab allies “will do
whatever it takes to protect the legitimate government of Yemen from falling”
and to restore stability in the region, forming thus a united Sunni coalition
against Shia militants in Yemen, allegedly backed by Shia Iran.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has delivered his official speech
to Egyptian citizens declaring that Egypt joins Saudi-led military offensive in
Yemen and will participate in a naval and air military operation, and that the
country is also ready for a ground offensive to restore order and stability in
Yemen, declaring its total political and military support of Saudi-led
intervention.
Earlier this week Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has called on
Arab allies to immediately form a coalition and start the military operation
aimed to stop Houthis’ advance.
Four Egyptian naval vessels have sailed throughout Suez Canal en route
to Yemeni Aden on Thursday, 26 March, in order to secure regional waters and to
support Saudi Arabia-led military operation in Yemen. State of highest alert
was declared, and Egyptian forces are on standby and ready to move once a
decision to intervene in Yemen will be taken, according to Egyptian military
sources.
 |
| Yemeni capital Sanaa after Saudi-led military strikes (Image: The Daily Mail) |
Meanwhile, Yemeni rebel
commanders have slammed the offensive, while Iranian officials have strongly
denounced Saudi Arabia-led military offensive and demanded an immediate halt of
a military strike in Yemen. Iran officials claim that current military
operation being carried out by Saudi Arabia and its united Sunni coalition
would complicate situation in a civil war torn country and would also
complicate efforts to end the conflict, increasing sectarian tensions.
Situation in the region remains tense and dangerous, as Yemeni crisis
risks currently to turn into a full-scale war between Sunni monarchies of Gulf
region and their Arab allies and Shia Houthi militias, backed and supported by
Iran, threatening regional’s security and stability.
No comments:
Post a Comment