Saudi Pounds Yemen Rebel Camps, Lashes Out at Iran

W300

Saudi-led coalition warplanes bombed rebel camps in Yemen Friday in a second day of strikes as embattled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi arrived in Egypt for talks with Arab allies.

A months-long rebellion by Shiite fighters has escalated into a regional conflict that threatens to tear apart the impoverished state at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia has vowed to do "whatever it takes" to prevent Hadi's fall, accusing Shiite Iran of "aggression" and backing the Huthi rebels' power grab.

Amid the air raids and scattered fighting, a call for a ceasefire was issued by former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, suspected of being allied with the rebels.

At least 39 civilians have been killed in Saudi-led Operation Decisive Storm against the Huthis and their allies, officials at the rebel-controlled health ministry in Sanaa said.

Twelve died when residential areas were hit in a raid on a military base north of the capital, the officials told AFP.

Strikes hit the rebel-held presidential compound in south Sanaa, as well as various military sites outside the capital including rocket launchers at the airport, witnesses said.

Warplanes also bombed a Huthi-controlled army brigade in Amran province north of Sanaa, and arms depots in the northern rebel stronghold of Saada, residents said.

And an army unit loyal to Saleh, along with Shiite militiamen, captured two villages in Abyan province, near the main southern city of Aden, where Hadi took refuge after fleeing Sanaa last month, military sources said.

- Tribesmen ambush rebels -

The rebels have also clashed with Sunni tribes as they push south.

At least 21 were killed Friday when tribesmen ambushed their vehicles north of Aden, a local official said.

Hadi, backed by the West and Gulf Arab states, flew to Egypt Friday for a weekend Arab League summit set to be dominated by Yemen.

He traveled from Riyadh after making his way from Aden as the rebels advanced on the city.

Saudi Arabia says more than 10 countries have joined the anti-Huthi coalition.

Reports said Saudi Arabia has deployed 100 warplanes, with another 67 coming from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly also mobilized 150,000 troops near the border.

The coalition said all members had contributed to the operation on Friday, with UAE warplanes "intensively" participating in the strikes.

The coalition now completely dominates Yemen's airspace, and aircraft seized by the Huthis have been destroyed, spokesman General Ahmed Assiri said in Riyadh.

As explosions rocked Sanaa, those families who have not already fled huddled in fear.

"Whenever a plane flies over our home and is met by anti-aircraft gunfire, my three children run to a corner and start screaming and crying," said Mohammed al-Jabahi, 32.

"We spent a night of non-stop terror and hysteria."

An anti-aircraft missile wounded eight people when it exploded in a market in Sanaa Friday, a day after being fired by the Huthis, a security official said.

- Trading accusations -

Iran has reacted furiously to the air strikes, calling them a violation of Yemen's sovereignty.

"Any military action against an independent country is wrong and will only result in a deepening crisis and more deaths among innocents," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

Former president Saleh called for "an immediate cessation of military operations by the coalition" and "a simultaneous immediate stop" by the Huthis, as well as a halt to looting of public buildings and army camps.

And he proposed a "resumption of dialogue... under the sponsorship of the United Nations, and its transfer to the United Arab Emirates or a U.N. building".

Saleh, who resigned in 2012 following a year of protests, is accused of allying with the rebels, relying on the loyalty of many army units that he built during his three-decade rule.

The conflict has raised a major hurdle to Washington's longstanding drone war against al-Qaida militants who have exploited the power vacuum since Saleh's downfall.

For now, Washington has pledged logistical and intelligence support for the campaign.

The Islamic State (IS) group, which has seized vast tracts of territory in Syria and Iraq, is also vying with Yemen-based Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Some observers warn that the Saudi strikes risk feeding instability and extremism.

"I think the net effect of this operation is ultimately dangerous for Yemen's future path," said Frederic Wehrey, at the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"It will open up more fissures on the ground, perhaps bolster the Huthis' popular support as defenders of Yemeni sovereignty, and create more opportunities for AQAP and IS to flourish."

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, chief of Lebanon's pro-Iran Hizbullah, said in a speech Friday that Saudi Arabia will be roundly defeated and called for a political settlement.

"Otherwise, defeat and shame will meet the invaders," he warned.

Comments 37
Thumb Mystic 9 years

When saudis kills civilians there is no Amnesty or Human rights concerning them.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 9 years

Mystic - you are full of it. Be assured that Amnesty and Human Rights Watch will report on violations. Their reports are never issued on the spot or as in your case from your own biases ans imagination. They are dome after the study of the fact. And no, you do not have 18 thumbs up. Like your statement, these are the product of your own delusions and those of m8 who have multiple accounts. And when Houthis, the Assad regime - supported by Iran - slaughter civilians, you support this slaughter.

Default-user-icon full.disclosure. (Guest) 9 years

18 up votes? Lol, oooook yea, those multiples accounts DEFINTIELY are legit lmao!!! This site is such a joke

Thumb galaxy 9 years

2 hours ago BBC Arabic citing unconfirmed reports: General Qassem Suleimani has headed to Yemen.

However:
إيران تطالب تركيا بعدم التدخل بشؤون دول الجوار

Thumb galaxy 9 years

مقتل 24 مدنيا باشتباكات مع ميليشيات الحوثي في عدن.

Thumb ex-fpm 9 years

you people are amazing... you have no problem with the Americans co-ordinating with the Iranian led invasion of Iraq but have so much pain when the Americans co-rodinate with the Saudis against your houthis.

Missing sanctify 9 years

What's with the Arab air forces? Do they ever hit their targets right?

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

just like al qaeda they dont really care, they just kill.

Thumb EagleDawn 9 years

collateral damage ...isn't that what you always described Syrian women and children blown to pieces by "barrel shaped" bombs of your beloved bashar.

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

But I thought you were against it! Now it's okay?

Plus it's not even comparable as the SAA is defending its own country against foreign terrorists, while KSA is bombing another country in a war of aggression. See the difference?

Thumb EagleDawn 9 years

But how come there are more than 200,000 syrian nationals dead so far? are they foreign nationals/terrorists?

here is the latest
ارتفع إلى 25 بينهم 4 أطفال وسيدتان عدد القتلى الذين قضوا جراء قصف من قبل الطيران الحربي التابع للنظام على مناطق في درعا البلد بمدينة درعا.
وقال نشطاء إن عدد القتلى مرشح للارتفاع بسبب وجود جرحى في حالات خطرة.
وألقى الطيران المروحي عدة براميل متفجرة على أماكن في حي طريق السد بدرعا المحطة وأماكن أخرى بدرعا البلد في مدينة درعا، كذلك قصف الطيران المروحي بالبراميل المتفجرة مناطق في بلدتي سملين وكفر شمس، في حين تعرضت مناطق في بلدتي اليادودة وإبطع لقصف من قبل قوات النظام، أيضاً قصف الطيران المروحي مناطق في بلدتي أم العوسج وبصر الحرير ولم ترد معلومات عن خسائر بشرية حتى اللحظة.

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

so you think the terrorists havent killed any Syrians? For your info most casualties are Syrian Army, then comes rebels, then comes civilians killed by rebels, then comes civilians killed by the army. It's a war, it's dirty, but Syria has no choice, it was imposed on them, they can only fight or surrender the country to foreign backed medieval animals. KSA is has no business interfering in Yemen, it's just a deliberate aggression.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 9 years

Eagledawn - the hundreds of thousands that are killed by the axis of treason do not count and especially if these were overwhelmingly Sunni civilians. And Mowaten - YES the overwhelming majority of civilians killed in Syria were courtesy of the regime and were mostly in rebel-held area.

Default-user-icon huthirium.leviosa (Guest) 9 years

this site wouldnt be the same without @mowaten's deeply informative and true posts. he deserves every thumb up he gives to himself, and then some! keep it up, bro!

Default-user-icon elias abu saab (Guest) 9 years

and care to share with us these statistics mr. mowaten..? I was amazed to read in your self-serving statistics that despite the military superiority of the assad army ( including air force )and your shia militia that the rebels were able to kill more syrian soldiers than vice versa. You think Qassim Suleimani has any business in Iraq and Syria or better still your lebanese shia and afghani militias have a specific business in Syria Iraq and Yemen.

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

yes elias, more SAA died than rebels (IS+NUSRA+FSA+1000 other groups). In direct confrontations the SAA has the upper hand because they are better trained and have heavy equipment support, but in the day-to-day clashes they lose more soldiers. The rebels can hide anywhere, they can withdraw anytime, regroup, disperse etc.. whereas the SAA has an obligation to man positions all over the territory (withdrawing means leaving the civilian populations behind them get slaughtered). So they have countless small positions that are vulnerable to hit and run attacks.
The difficulty of protecting all areas and neighborhoods is one of the main reason they organized local NDF groups to help defend their own villages.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 9 years

Civilians tonto -- Who killed more civilians!!!

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

fuming? lol not really dude, did you know in the last day the houthis downed 2 saudi jets, 1 saudi chopper, 1 emirati jet, captured several saudi tanks, and made saudi close 7 airports in the south? seems like their money wont save them this time, their toy boys are facing real fighters :)

Thumb Mystic 9 years

Indeed, Saudi money wont save them. This is a battle that can't be bought with money, but with determination & revolution all which the Ansarallah obtains. Saudi GCC aggression towards the Yemeni people, will be a huge failure.

Thumb marcus 9 years

Not a single respected news site reported the downing of these jets! Saudi ground forces have not even crossed the border so I am not sure where you are getting your information as to the capture of several saudi tanks.

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 9 years

Mystic - you mean fanaticism for avenging a crime that happened 1,400 years ago or is it to serve Iran imperial ambitions. Look, I have friends who support Iran no matter what but at least they are honest to say it. The Iranians have a project. The Arab regimes do not. Between a project and non-project, where do you want me to stand. I greatly sympathized with this point of view till I saw its outcome in Lebanon, Syria and now Yemen. I have zero sympathy and support for the Royals in Saudi Arabia but do not tell me to support a predatory imperial power like Iran.

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

lol yea keep crying and calling for help everywhere, saudi, the emirates, qatar, egypt, the US, tunisia, israel... now pakistan... what a loser you are :D

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

as for al qaeda you're hilarious, the KSA just launched an attack on those fighting al qaeda in yemen, didn you get it yet? they're protecting their pets.

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

truh is the US/Saudi/HAdi have been allegedly bombing al qaeda for years now, with what effect? al qaeda in yemen only grew stronger, their headquarters and leaders weren't touched, many civilians were killed meaning more angry people joining al qaeda's ranks. stop being so naive, they nurtured qaeda rather than destroyed it.

Missing humble 9 years

I ask you : "what is the difference between the Islamic Republic of the wilayat al faqih, and the Islamic takfiry caliphate?"
To me, both are stone age, obscurantists, totalitarian and theocratic models. If you like them go and try them where they exist.
I do not want ANY OF THEM in my country.

Thumb _mowaten_ 9 years

the differences are countless between the Iran and the so-called "islamic state", there's actually nothing to compare.
but i know one country that has countless similarities with da3esh, wanna take a guess which one?

Missing ArabDemocrat.com 9 years

Mowaten - you have it upside down. The Hadi government was the one fighting the Al-Qaeda and was very effective in defeating them with US support. Al-Qaeda is nor resurgent because the Houthis, and despite continuous concessions, attacked and overthrew the government and continue to take over its institutions. Be host - one in your life - please.

Thumb EagleDawn 9 years

yes of course, on the other hand your huthis have been battling the al qaeda on a daily basis just like your terror party has been battling everybody but ISIS in Syria. The huthis killed and massacred everybody in Yemen except al qaeda.

Default-user-icon Neal (Guest) 9 years

please Mowaten educate me please . what is the difference between alQaida and Hezbollah? beside both being a terrorist group

Missing coolmec 9 years

@terrorist
Not that I support the huthis but I got to tell you the Saudi army is worthless. They do have good weapons but they have yet to learn how to use it. they have no brains but they do have cash and this strategy may not work out well for them.
let's wait and see

Thumb galaxy 9 years

@coolmec, your comments are ridiculous to say the least.

Thumb Tony.Farris 9 years

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/yemen.htm

History repeating it's self...

Thumb Tony.Farris 9 years

Getting complicated. The enemy of my friend's enemy's friend's enemy is my ally unless of course he is misbehaving elsewhere and therefore I don't know what to call him. We may need Dr. Strangelove (Henry Kissinger) to sort this out.

Default-user-icon abbas (Guest) 9 years

subhuanallah its allah's and hussain's will, that the students of Abu Dharr al ghifari, are to be the dominant residers over the famous, mountainous, region named jabal sou3ada..and that is even despite the massacres and attempted annihilation by numerous, of blood thirsty dynasties that always wanted to silence the "rawafid" for over a millenium ...allah's divine intervention throughout history is always on display in sou3ada most recent example was in San3a, and now, look at the fertility that the houthi stock are blessed with....truly we are the fertile crescant.

Default-user-icon R&R (Guest) 9 years

Lol shias r funny. Remember the days they had power in Yemen lol. Welcome to the new era.

Missing coolmec 9 years

@ tony farris
you Dr Strangelove is the guy who ignited the war in Lebanon back in 1975
so no thanks no need for his help

Thumb EagleDawn 9 years

Yes they did a large scale invasion of al qaeda areas such as sanaa and aden airports, the local TV stations, army barracks, and the presidential palace. In fact their shelling/air strike of the presidential palace in Aden was to root out the alqaeda holed up in the VIP lounge. Go peddle your SSNP propaganda on al mayaddeen tv or manar.