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| Saudi Arabia evacuates diplomats as attacks intensify in Yemen | Saudi Arabia evacuates diplomats as attacks intensify in Yemen |
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| SANAA, Yemen — Saudi Arabia has evacuated diplomats from the southern Yemeni city of Aden, state television reported Saturday, amid intensifying attacks against Shiite insurgents from a coalition led by Riyadh that is pushing this volatile nation over the edge. | SANAA, Yemen — Saudi Arabia has evacuated diplomats from the southern Yemeni city of Aden, state television reported Saturday, amid intensifying attacks against Shiite insurgents from a coalition led by Riyadh that is pushing this volatile nation over the edge. |
| The insurgents, known as Houthis, have in recent days fought their way from the capital of Sanaa in the north to the outskirts of Aden, despite the airstrikes by the coalition of largely Arab countries. The Saudi-steered coalition wants to secure the hold on Aden by forces loyal to Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, threatening to send in ground troops to push back the Houthis. | The insurgents, known as Houthis, have in recent days fought their way from the capital of Sanaa in the north to the outskirts of Aden, despite the airstrikes by the coalition of largely Arab countries. The Saudi-steered coalition wants to secure the hold on Aden by forces loyal to Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, threatening to send in ground troops to push back the Houthis. |
| Al-Ekhbariya TV announced on its news ticker that the diplomats had been safely transported to the Saudi city of Jeddah, the Reuters news agency reported. | Al-Ekhbariya TV announced on its news ticker that the diplomats had been safely transported to the Saudi city of Jeddah, the Reuters news agency reported. |
| “The Saudi Royal Navy implemented an operation called Hurricane to evacuate dozens of diplomats, including Saudis, from Aden,” the television station reported without offering further details. | “The Saudi Royal Navy implemented an operation called Hurricane to evacuate dozens of diplomats, including Saudis, from Aden,” the television station reported without offering further details. |
| Gulf Arab States, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, relocated their embassies to Aden in February after Hadi fled to the city after escaping Houthi house arrest in Sanaa. | Gulf Arab States, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, relocated their embassies to Aden in February after Hadi fled to the city after escaping Houthi house arrest in Sanaa. |
| Basem al-Hakimi, a politician in Aden who opposes the Houthis, said the diplomats have been leaving with Saudi help for the last two days. He described the situation in Aden as “great chaos,” adding that Houthi rebels were attempting to push deeper into the city. | Basem al-Hakimi, a politician in Aden who opposes the Houthis, said the diplomats have been leaving with Saudi help for the last two days. He described the situation in Aden as “great chaos,” adding that Houthi rebels were attempting to push deeper into the city. |
| “Everyone is trying to get weapons to fight the Houthis. It’s madness,” he said. | “Everyone is trying to get weapons to fight the Houthis. It’s madness,” he said. |
| Unconfirmed video footage shows people looting Hadi’s residence in Aden, which he abandoned after fleeing Yemen earlier this week. A voice on the film can heard saying that “this is the house of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi,” as looters are seen carrying off items such as living room chairs. | |
| The Houthis have pressed on with their offensive even as the Saudi-led force of at least 10 countries have stepped up attacks, including what residents in the capital described as the most intense air barrages since the campaign began on Thursday. Military targets that were struck in attacks on Friday were hit again overnight, sustaining even heavier damage, they said. | The Houthis have pressed on with their offensive even as the Saudi-led force of at least 10 countries have stepped up attacks, including what residents in the capital described as the most intense air barrages since the campaign began on Thursday. Military targets that were struck in attacks on Friday were hit again overnight, sustaining even heavier damage, they said. |
| The fighting signals that this destitute Arabian Peninsula country — which struggles with a powerful al-Qaeda affiliate — is turning into a proxy battlefield for Saudi Arabia, the region’s Sunni powerhouse, and its primary foe: Shiite Iran. Riyadh accuses Tehran of providing weapons and funding for the Houthis, who follow the Zaydi branch of Shiite Islam. | The fighting signals that this destitute Arabian Peninsula country — which struggles with a powerful al-Qaeda affiliate — is turning into a proxy battlefield for Saudi Arabia, the region’s Sunni powerhouse, and its primary foe: Shiite Iran. Riyadh accuses Tehran of providing weapons and funding for the Houthis, who follow the Zaydi branch of Shiite Islam. |
| Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency reported that two F-15 fighter pilots who ejected from their aircraft over the Read Sea were rescued with American assistance. The aircraft went down because of a “technical failure,” the agency reported, without providing further details. | Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency reported that two F-15 fighter pilots who ejected from their aircraft over the Read Sea were rescued with American assistance. The aircraft went down because of a “technical failure,” the agency reported, without providing further details. |
| The Associated Press reported that a U.S. helicopter flew from neighboring Djibouti Thursday to the Gulf of Aden, rescuing the Saudi pilots. | The Associated Press reported that a U.S. helicopter flew from neighboring Djibouti Thursday to the Gulf of Aden, rescuing the Saudi pilots. |
| 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 instead would seek to safeguard enough territory for 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 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 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, said at 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 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. | 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 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. | 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 news 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 deploy 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 source of revenue 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 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. | 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 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.” | 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 that the fight might be more complicated than Saudi officials and their Yemeni allies predict. | 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 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. | 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 al-Arabiya, Hadi plans to attend the summit. | According to al-Arabiya, Hadi plans to attend the summit. |