The operation will continue to target Houthi militias as it enters a political phase, Saudi state television reported.
“The coalition will continue to prevent the movement of Houthi militias from moving or undertaking any operations inside Yemen,” Gen. Ahmed Asiri told reporters in Riyadh.
The Riyadh-based central command also announced the beginning of a new campaign, named “Operation Restoring Hope,” after the earlier campaign launched on March 26 fulfilled its objectives, a statement said.
The Saudi defense ministry said in a statement that the air strikes had managed “to successfully remove threats to Saudi Arabia’s security and that of neighboring countries.”
- Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry welcomed the announcement, reported Reuters citing an Iranian news agency.
The new push will usher in diplomatic and political efforts along with military operations, Asiri said.
- The campaign ended following a request from the ‘legitimate’ Yemeni government led by President Abdrabbu Mansour Hadi, Asiri explained.
Speaking to Al Arabiya News Channel, Asiri said that “Operation Decisive Storm” destroyed the militia’s ability to use ballistic missiles.
“We are not talking about a ceasefire. Operation Restoring Hope has a military component,” said Asiri, emphasizing that evacuation and humanitarian relief missions are ongoing.
“Operation Restoring Hope” will include aerial and naval supervision, explained Asiri, adding that Houthi militia will be targeted if they tried to harm civilians.
“This is a military component; in addition to the political component.”
Earlier on Tuesday Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Abdulaziz ordered the kingdom’s National Guard take part in the military campaign in Yemen, Al Arabiya News Channel reported.
alarabiya.net
21/4/15
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Saudi-led coalition begins new phase in Yemen campaign ...
ReplyDeleteThe Saudi-led coalition that has been bombing Yemen for almost a month says its military operation 'Decisive Storm' will end at midnight local time and a new campaign aimed at protecting civilians and preventing Houthi fighters from operating will begin.
Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Assiri, the coalition's spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the coalition had achieved its military goals in Yemen and a new operation, called 'Restoration of Hope,' would aim to protect civilians and combat "terrorism."
A few hours after the coalition announcement, senior Houthi leaders said a political deal to end the conflict had almost been reached, the Reuters news agency reported.
Assiri hailed 'Decisive Storm,' a military campaign launched by Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Sunni-ruled Gulf countries on March 26, a "success," before saying it would cease at midnight (21:00 GMT), paving the way for operation 'Restoration of Hope' a "combination of political, diplomatic and military action."...........aljazeera.com
21/4/15
Saudis end air campaign in Yemen, seek political solution...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday it was ending a month-long campaign of air strikes against the Houthi rebels who seized large areas of Yemen and said it would back a political solution to bring peace to its war-ravaged neighbor.
Iran, which has supported the fellow Shi'ite Houthis, welcomed the ceasefire, which followed months of factional fighting between the militant group and forces loyal to the government, which was driven out of the capital Sanaa.
"Operation Decisive Storm has achieved its goals ...(including) removing the threat to Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries, especially in terms of heavy weapons," said a statement carried by Saudi state news agency SPA........reuters.com
21/4/15