The conflict has sent tensions soaring between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels, raising fears Yemen could become a new front in a proxy war between Middle East powers.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin on Thursday accused Tehran of trying to break a naval blockade on his country, describing the war as an "Iranian plot implemented by the Houthi militia."
A US official said Thursday the nine-ship Iranian convoy that had been heading for Yemen is "no longer on the same course".
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and other American warships have deployed off Yemen's coast to track the Iranian flotilla and possibly prevent any arms deliveries to the Iran-backed Houthi Shiite rebels.
The flotilla included two "armed vessels," said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
- It was possible the Iranians "could make a turn to Yemen at any time," the official added.
With international pressure mounting for a political solution, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced plans to appoint Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as his new envoy to Yemen.
He replaces Morocco's Jamal Benomar, who resigned last week after losing support for his mediation efforts from oil-rich Gulf countries.
The Huthis swept into the capital in September from their northern stronghold, and later advanced south on the major port of Aden, forcing President Abed Rabbou Mansour Hadi to flee to Riyadh last month.
The UN Security Council has imposed an arms embargo on the Huthis.
- Prince sparks controversy -
The Saudi-led alliance says it has destroyed the Houthis' missile and air capabilities, removing the threat to neighbouring countries.
But the capital remains in rebel hands while Al-Qaeda has exploited the instability to seize more territory in the largely lawless southeast.
The UN says millions have been affected by the conflict and are struggling to access healthcare, water, food and fuel.
"The toll on civilians has been immense," UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Johannes Van Der Klaauw said.
The UN's human rights agency said Friday at least 551 of the people killed were civilians.
- A billionaire Saudi prince purportedly deleted a controversial tweet in which he offered 100 luxury Bentley cars to air force pilots who took part in the bombing.
The message sparked criticism from other Twitter users, with some accusing Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of being a "show off" and another saying a gift of 100 warplanes "would have been more patriotic."
No pilots have died during the air campaign but eight Saudi security personnel were killed in armed skirmishes along the border with Yemen.
AFP
dailystar.com.lb
24/4/15
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Saudi coalition bombs Houthi-held camp in Yemen's Taizz
US sends carrier to Yemen waters with eye on Iran convoy
Iran sends warship to Gulf of Aden for safety of Iranian vessels (Iranian ships ‘not allowed’ in Yemeni waters)
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More fighting, air strikes in Yemen, civilian death toll exceeds 550...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Fighting between Yemen's warring factions raged in southern and central parts of the country and air strikes hit Houthi militia forces in Aden on Friday, but there were no fresh moves toward dialogue.
Saudi Arabia says it is winding down its month-old bombing operation against the Iran-allied Houthis and forces loyal to Yemen's former president. But Riyadh pounded targets with at least 20 airstrikes across Yemen on Thursday and 10 more on Friday.
The civilian death toll from the fighting and airstrikes since the bombing started on March 26 has reached an estimated 551 people, the United Nations said on Friday. Its children's agency UNICEF said at least 115 children were among the dead.....reuters.com
24/4/15