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Despite Saudi-led airstrikes, Shiite rebels continue to advance in Yemen Despite Saudi-led airstrikes, Shiite rebels continue to advance in Yemen
(about 3 hours later)
SANAA, Yemen — Shiite rebels reached the outskirts of the key southern city of Aden on Friday, boldly defying a bombing campaign led by Saudi Arabia that is seeking to push them back and carve out a protected space for the country’s beleaguered president.SANAA, Yemen — Shiite rebels reached the outskirts of the key southern city of Aden on Friday, boldly defying a bombing campaign led by Saudi Arabia that is seeking to push them back and carve out a protected space for the country’s beleaguered president.
The drive by the rebels, known as Houthis, indicates they have not been intimidated by a growing, Saudi-led force of at least 10 nations that have pledged aircraft and ships in a major operation to stop the insurgents. The U.S. government is contributing intelligence and logistics aid to the Saudi-led offensive. The drive by the rebels, known as Houthis, indicates they have not been intimidated by a growing Saudi-led force of at least 10 nations that have pledged aircraft and ships in a major operation to stop the insurgents. The U.S. government is contributing intelligence and logistics aid to the Saudi-led offensive.
The fighting reflects how this impoverished Arabian Peninsula country may be turning into a battleground between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, the region’s foremost powers. The Saudis accuse the Iranians of arming the Houthi rebels.The fighting reflects how this impoverished Arabian Peninsula country may be turning into a battleground between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, the region’s foremost powers. The Saudis accuse the Iranians of arming the Houthi rebels.
For the first time in the two-day operation, Saudi officials sketched out the scope of their military operation, indicating they might not try to completely defeat the Houthi rebels, but rather to safeguard enough territory for President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to return from exile. He had established a government in Aden in February after the rebels toppled his administration in Sanaa, the capital. He fled Aden for Saudi Arabia this week as the insurgents moved in. For the first time in the two-day-long operation, Saudi officials sketched out the scope of their military operation, indicating they might not try to completely defeat the Houthi rebels but instead would seek to safeguard enough territory for President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to return from exile. He had established a government in Aden in February after the rebels toppled his administration in Sanaa, the capital. He fled Aden for Saudi Arabia this week as the insurgents moved in.
“I want to confirm that the operation itself has as its main objective to protect the government in Aden,” Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asseri, a Saudi military spokesman, told a news conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, according to the Reuters news agency. “I want to confirm that the operation itself has as its main objective to protect the government in Aden,” Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asseri, a Saudi military spokesman, said at a news conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, according to the Reuters news agency.
Anis Mansour, editor in chief of the city’s Huna Aden newspaper, said the rebels had seized a government compound on Friday in Dar Saad, about five miles from the center of Aden. They had also taken control of the city’s airport, he said. Rebels and pro-government forces have battled over the airport for days. Anis Mansour, editor in chief of the city’s Huna Aden newspaper, said the rebels seized a government compound Friday in Dar Saad, about five miles from the center of Aden. They also took control of the city’s airport, he said. Rebels and pro-government forces have battled over the airport for days.
The Houthi attacks occurred even as the Saudi-led forces conducted a new wave of bombings. Local media and residents in Sanaa said the airstrikes on Friday targeted military installations controlled by the rebels, as well as forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, the longtime Yemeni autocrat who was forced from power by a popular uprising that started in 2011. He is widely considered to have thrown his support behind the Houthis. The Houthi attacks occurred even as the Saudi-led forces conducted a new wave of bombings. Local news media and residents in Sanaa said the airstrikes Friday targeted military installations controlled by the rebels as well as by forces loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, the longtime Yemeni autocrat who was forced from power by a popular uprising that started in 2011. He is widely considered to have thrown his support behind the Houthis.
Also targeted were a port in the west and a military base in the oil-rich province of Marib, which the Houthis have attempted to capture in recent weeks.Also targeted were a port in the west and a military base in the oil-rich province of Marib, which the Houthis have attempted to capture in recent weeks.
[What the bombing of Yemen means for the Middle East][What the bombing of Yemen means for the Middle East]
The Saudi-led forces also launched an early morning air attack on the former presidential residence in Sanaa, which is under rebel control. They killed at least two Houthi leaders and wounded Mohammed al-Houthi, the rebel group’s top official in the city, according to local media reports. The Saudi-led forces also launched an early-morning air attack on the former presidential residence in Sanaa, which is under rebel control. They killed at least two Houthi leaders and wounded Mohammed al-Houthi, the rebel group’s top official in the city, according to local news reports.
But Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a top Houthi official, called the reports “entirely false.”But Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a top Houthi official, called the reports “entirely false.”
Speaking by telephone, he accused Saudi Arabia of seeking “to destroy Yemen’s army” by attacking military bases. The military has fractured, with some officers supporting Saleh and others backing Hadi.Speaking by telephone, he accused Saudi Arabia of seeking “to destroy Yemen’s army” by attacking military bases. The military has fractured, with some officers supporting Saleh and others backing Hadi.
Ahmed Abdulwahid, 22, said he watched the Attan military base in Sanaa explode into a fireball early Friday.Ahmed Abdulwahid, 22, said he watched the Attan military base in Sanaa explode into a fireball early Friday.
“There were three airstrikes. The third one, at about 5:30 a.m., created this extremely bright flash over the base. At first, we thought it was dawn, but then we realized it was just the intensity of explosion in the distance,” the university student said, adding that he also saw antiaircraft fire. “It was terrifying.” “There were three airstrikes. The third one, at about 5:30 a.m., created this extremely bright flash over the base. At first, we thought it was dawn, but then we realized it was just the intensity of explosion in the distance,” the university student said, adding that he also saw antiaircraft fire. “It was terrifying.”
Early this year, the Houthi rebels effectively toppled the government of Hadi, a key U.S. partner in combating al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, considered the most dangerous branch of the extremist group. Hadi and other government ministers were placed under house arrest. Last month, Hadi escaped to Aden.Early this year, the Houthi rebels effectively toppled the government of Hadi, a key U.S. partner in combating al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, considered the most dangerous branch of the extremist group. Hadi and other government ministers were placed under house arrest. Last month, Hadi escaped to Aden.
[Chart: Yemen’s chaos, explained][Chart: Yemen’s chaos, explained]
Tehran has condemned the Saudi-led attacks and called for an immediate halt to the campaign, which includes threats of a land invasion. Egypt has dispatched several warships to Aden.Tehran has condemned the Saudi-led attacks and called for an immediate halt to the campaign, which includes threats of a land invasion. Egypt has dispatched several warships to Aden.
Speaking by telephone, Deif Allah al-Shami, a member of the Houthi political bureau, warned that “history will repeat itself” if the Egyptians deployed ground forces. That was a reference to the 1960s, when Egypt suffered tens of thousands of casualties while fighting a war in Yemen. Speaking by telephone, Deif Allah al-Shami, a member of the Houthi political bureau, warned that “history will repeat itself” if the Egyptians deploy ground forces. That was a reference to the 1960s, when Egypt suffered tens of thousands of casualties while fighting a war in Yemen.
“This time, however, their losses will be much greater,” Shami said.“This time, however, their losses will be much greater,” Shami said.
In February, as the Houthis advanced across Yemen, Egyptian officials warned that their forces would move to block the rebels from accessing a strategic strait that links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Egypt’s Suez Canal, which allows ships to pass from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, is a key revenue source for the country. In February, as the Houthis advanced across Yemen, Egyptian officials warned that their forces would move to block the rebels from accessing a strategic strait that links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Egypt’s Suez Canal, which allows ships to pass from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, is a key source of revenue for the country.
Egypt has increasingly portrayed itself as a regional power capable of intervening in Arab countries that struggle with unrest. Last month, Egyptian warplanes hit jihadist targets in Libya in retaliation for the beheading of 20 Egyptian Christians by local militants.Egypt has increasingly portrayed itself as a regional power capable of intervening in Arab countries that struggle with unrest. Last month, Egyptian warplanes hit jihadist targets in Libya in retaliation for the beheading of 20 Egyptian Christians by local militants.
With U.S. influence waning in the region, “Egypt’s role as anchor in a regional security regime will continue to grow,” said Hisham Kassem, a Cairo-based political analyst. With U.S. influence in the region waning, “Egypt’s role as anchor in a regional security regime will continue to grow,” said Hisham Kassem, a Cairo-based political analyst.
But Egyptian forces would probably face stiff resistance on the ground from battle-hardened Houthi rebels as well as elite military units loyal to Saleh.But Egyptian forces would probably face stiff resistance on the ground from battle-hardened Houthi rebels as well as elite military units loyal to Saleh.
Military experts warn that Egyptian ground troops, last deployed during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, are ill-prepared to wage a successful counterinsurgency campaign overseas.Military experts warn that Egyptian ground troops, last deployed during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, are ill-prepared to wage a successful counterinsurgency campaign overseas.
Houthi rebels and forces linked to Saleh appeared to be encircling Aden on Friday.Houthi rebels and forces linked to Saleh appeared to be encircling Aden on Friday.
Mansour, the newspaper editor in the city, said that residents have been looting two local military bases, arming themselves in preparation for incursions.Mansour, the newspaper editor in the city, said that residents have been looting two local military bases, arming themselves in preparation for incursions.
But for the most part, Mansour said, “the streets here are empty and shops are closed. There’s no more gasoline because all the stations are closed.”But for the most part, Mansour said, “the streets here are empty and shops are closed. There’s no more gasoline because all the stations are closed.”
Hadi’s internationally recognized government had appealed recently for military intervention from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is anchored by the Saudis and includes Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.Hadi’s internationally recognized government had appealed recently for military intervention from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which is anchored by the Saudis and includes Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.
In an apparent indication of concern over escalating events, a senior Yemeni official allied with U.S.-backed Hadi said Friday that the assaults could end soon. Speaking to the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television station, Riyadh Yaseen said he expected that “this operation will not go on for long. I think it will be days.” In an apparent indication of concern over escalating events, a senior Yemeni official allied with Hadi said Friday that the assaults could end soon. Speaking to ­Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television, Riyadh Yaseen said he expects that “this operation will not go on for long. I think it will be days.”
But the Houthi offensive suggested the fight might be more complicated than Saudi officials and their Yemeni allies expected. But the Houthi offensive suggested that the fight might be more complicated than Saudi officials and their Yemeni allies predict.
An Arab League summit beginning Saturday was expected to consider the creation of a unified Arab military force to respond to crises. The size, budget and mandate of the force have not yet been agreed upon. An Arab League summit beginning Saturday is expected to consider the creation of a unified Arab military force to respond to crises. The size, budget and mandate of the force have not yet been agreed upon.
According to the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya satellite channel, Hadi was to attend the summit. According to al-Arabiya, Hadi plans to attend the summit.
Naylor reported from Beirut. Erin Cunningham and Heba Habib in Cairo contributed to this report.Naylor reported from Beirut. Erin Cunningham and Heba Habib in Cairo contributed to this report.
Read more:Read more:
Who are the Houthis?Who are the Houthis?
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