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Saudi-led airstrikes intensify in Yemen as possible coalition land attack looms Saudi-led airstrikes intensify in Yemen as possible coalition land attack looms
(35 minutes later)
SANAA, Yemen — Arab leaders vowed Saturday to back the embattled Yemeni president as a Saudi Arabia-steered coalition intensified airstrikes across Yemen, developments that could mark preparations for a possible land invasion targeting the country’s Houthi insurgents.SANAA, Yemen — Arab leaders vowed Saturday to back the embattled Yemeni president as a Saudi Arabia-steered coalition intensified airstrikes across Yemen, developments that could mark preparations for a possible land invasion targeting the country’s Houthi insurgents.
In the southern city of Aden, a hotbed of anti-Houthi sentiment and a possible starting point for a coalition ground assault, one politician described a situation of “great chaos” as the insurgents pressed their advance on the city. Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the desert kingdom’s navy had evacuated 86 diplomats from Aden by ship on Wednesday.In the southern city of Aden, a hotbed of anti-Houthi sentiment and a possible starting point for a coalition ground assault, one politician described a situation of “great chaos” as the insurgents pressed their advance on the city. Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the desert kingdom’s navy had evacuated 86 diplomats from Aden by ship on Wednesday.
Support for Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled Aden for Saudi Arabia this past week, was firmly voiced by leaders of regional powers attending the Arab League summit Saturday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh — a rare sign of unity in a region rife with war and divisions.Support for Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who fled Aden for Saudi Arabia this past week, was firmly voiced by leaders of regional powers attending the Arab League summit Saturday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh — a rare sign of unity in a region rife with war and divisions.
The leaders of Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, among others, billed Yemen’s chaotic spiral as a grave threat to the entire Middle East, and on Saturday officials submitted a draft resolution creating a joint Arab military force to respond to the region’s growing crises. The leaders of Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, among others, billed Yemen’s chaotic spiral as a grave threat to the entire Middle East, and on Saturday, officials submitted a draft resolution creating a joint Arab military force to respond to the region’s growing crises.
The details of any potential security regime remained unclear. But with battles raging across Libya, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, the show of Arab support for the anti-Houthi offensive underscored a readiness by regional states to interfere in neighboring countries beset by violence.The details of any potential security regime remained unclear. But with battles raging across Libya, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, the show of Arab support for the anti-Houthi offensive underscored a readiness by regional states to interfere in neighboring countries beset by violence.
[What the bombing of Yemen means for the Middle East][What the bombing of Yemen means for the Middle East]
“The Arab nation has passed through many phases, none of which has posed as much of a threat as the one we’re experiencing now,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi told the summit. “The Arab nation has passed through many phases, none of which has posed as much of a threat as the one we’re experiencing now,” Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sissi told the summit.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia, in another speech to the delegates, vowed to continue military operations in Yemen “until stability is returned,” a reference to restoring Hadi’s authority. After fleeing the capital, Sanaa, last month, Hadi set up a rival authority in Aden that has since fallen apart because of the fighting.King Salman of Saudi Arabia, in another speech to the delegates, vowed to continue military operations in Yemen “until stability is returned,” a reference to restoring Hadi’s authority. After fleeing the capital, Sanaa, last month, Hadi set up a rival authority in Aden that has since fallen apart because of the fighting.
Hadi also addressed the summit, expressing his approval of the coalition attacks that began Thursday and declaring that the military operation “must continue.” He characterized the rebels who effectively toppled his government in Sanaa in February as “stooges” of Iran.Hadi also addressed the summit, expressing his approval of the coalition attacks that began Thursday and declaring that the military operation “must continue.” He characterized the rebels who effectively toppled his government in Sanaa in February as “stooges” of Iran.
“The Houthis and their allies have turned against national unity and are dragging Yemen into a civil war,” he said.“The Houthis and their allies have turned against national unity and are dragging Yemen into a civil war,” he said.
The remarks highlighted the escalating tensions that the airstrikes by the roughly 10-member coalition have stirred between the region’s major rivals: Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran. Tehran has increased its support for the Houthis, who follow the Zaydi sect of Shiite Islam.The remarks highlighted the escalating tensions that the airstrikes by the roughly 10-member coalition have stirred between the region’s major rivals: Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran. Tehran has increased its support for the Houthis, who follow the Zaydi sect of Shiite Islam.
Many Yemenis fear that the fighting could turn their country into an arena for proxy battles between Riyadh and Tehran, which are backing warring parties in other destructive regional conflicts such as the Syrian civil war. Yemen, the poorest Arab country, has struggled to quell attacks by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as a possible Yemeni wing of the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for suicide bombings this month that killed nearly 140 people in the capital. Many Yemenis fear that the fighting could turn their country into an arena for proxy battles between Riyadh and Tehran, which are backing warring parties in other destructive regional conflicts such as the Syrian civil war. Yemen, the poorest Arab country, has struggled to quell attacks by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula as well as a possible Yemeni wing of the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for suicide bombings this month that killed nearly 140 people in the capital.
[Chart: Yemen’s chaos, explained][Chart: Yemen’s chaos, explained]
Residents of Sanaa, Aden and the western province of Hodeida said that the frequency of airstrikes increased overnight Friday, the targets including military installations controlled by the Houthis as well as military units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, a longtime Yemeni strongman who was forced from power in 2012. Saleh has allied with the Houthis during their takeover of Sanaa in September and the assaults that have brought the insurgents to the northern outskirts of Aden, many Yemenis say. Residents of Sanaa, Aden and the western province of Hodeida said the frequency of airstrikes increased overnight Friday, the targets including military installations controlled by the Houthis as well as military units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, a longtime Yemeni strongman who was forced from power in 2012. Saleh has allied with the Houthis during their takeover of Sanaa in September and the assaults that have brought the insurgents to the northern outskirts of Aden, many Yemenis say.
Riad Kahwaji, head of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said that the coalition attacks have targeted Houthi-linked air defenses, arms depots and communications lines. The intention, he said, is to “prepare the way” for a an “imminent ground offensive.” Riad Kahwaji, head of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said the coalition attacks have targeted Houthi-linked air defenses, arms depots and communications lines. The intention, he said, is to “prepare the way” for an “imminent ground offensive.”
“It’s a classic move of taking out air defenses, ensuring air superiority and taking out command-and-control and communication posts,” he said. Houthi forces would likely crumble in the face of a ground assault by militaries such as Egypt’s, which are more organized, heavily armed and “trained by the U.S.,” Kahwaji added.“It’s a classic move of taking out air defenses, ensuring air superiority and taking out command-and-control and communication posts,” he said. Houthi forces would likely crumble in the face of a ground assault by militaries such as Egypt’s, which are more organized, heavily armed and “trained by the U.S.,” Kahwaji added.
Lina Khatib, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center, said that the Houthis would struggle to repel a ground offensive in significant areas that they control, including Aden and other important cities, such as Taiz, in part because of a lack of support from local populations. The Houthis are from the north, which has long been dominated by fellow Zaydis, as opposed to the predominantly Sunni south. Lina Khatib, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center, said the Houthis would struggle to repel a ground offensive in significant areas that they control or are trying to control, including Aden and other important cities, such as Taiz, in part because of a lack of support from local populations. The Houthis are from the north, which has long been dominated by fellow Zaydis, as opposed to the predominantly Sunni south.
“I think they’re losing this battle,” Khatib said of the Houthis, adding that Iran would likely hesitate to come to the rebels’ defense in the event of a Saudi-led ground assault.“I think they’re losing this battle,” Khatib said of the Houthis, adding that Iran would likely hesitate to come to the rebels’ defense in the event of a Saudi-led ground assault.
“They are useful allies of Iran, but they are not seen as indispensable by Iran,” she said.“They are useful allies of Iran, but they are not seen as indispensable by Iran,” she said.
Airstrikes early Saturday smashed into the Attan air base in the capital for a second straight day, residents said, producing massive fireballs that lit up the early evening sky.Airstrikes early Saturday smashed into the Attan air base in the capital for a second straight day, residents said, producing massive fireballs that lit up the early evening sky.
In Hodeida province, residents said that at least two air-defense systems had been attacked, including one located near a port facility. Yemeni officials and Houthi opponents claim that Iranian weapons have been shipped to the rebels throughout the area. Houthi officials, for their part, deny receiving Iranian weapons.In Hodeida province, residents said that at least two air-defense systems had been attacked, including one located near a port facility. Yemeni officials and Houthi opponents claim that Iranian weapons have been shipped to the rebels throughout the area. Houthi officials, for their part, deny receiving Iranian weapons.
Ridhwan al-Absi, a lawyer in the city of Hodeida, said that before the Saudi-led assaults, airstrikes “targeted air defenses.”Ridhwan al-Absi, a lawyer in the city of Hodeida, said that before the Saudi-led assaults, airstrikes “targeted air defenses.”
In Aden, one apparent attack by the coalition on an ammunition depot next to the city killed and wounded scores of people, according to residents and physicians.In Aden, one apparent attack by the coalition on an ammunition depot next to the city killed and wounded scores of people, according to residents and physicians.
Al-Khadher Laswar, general manager of the Health Ministry office in Aden, said nine people sustained third-degree burns in the attack and five others were injured by falling debris. He did not have accurate figures on the number of people killed because of the danger of secondary explosions at the site, he said. Al-Khadher Laswar, general manager of the Health Ministry office in Aden, said nine people suffered third-degree burns in the attack and five others were injured by falling debris. He had no accurate figures on the number of people killed because of the danger of secondary explosions at the site, he said.
He added that 61 people were killed and nearly 500 wounded in clashes in Aden and surrounding areas in recent days. Aden residents say that Houthi rebels and pro-Saleh military units control the city’s airport, and they also cite rising lawlessness that has resulted in looting.He added that 61 people were killed and nearly 500 wounded in clashes in Aden and surrounding areas in recent days. Aden residents say that Houthi rebels and pro-Saleh military units control the city’s airport, and they also cite rising lawlessness that has resulted in looting.
Basem al-Hakimi, a politician in Aden who opposes the Houthis, described the situation as chaotic. “Everyone is trying to get weapons to fight the Houthis. It’s madness,” he said.Basem al-Hakimi, a politician in Aden who opposes the Houthis, described the situation as chaotic. “Everyone is trying to get weapons to fight the Houthis. It’s madness,” he said.
Unconfirmed video footage shows people looting Hadi’s abandoned residence in Aden. A voice-over says,“This is the house of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi,” as looters are seen carrying off items such as living room chairs.Unconfirmed video footage shows people looting Hadi’s abandoned residence in Aden. A voice-over says,“This is the house of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi,” as looters are seen carrying off items such as living room chairs.
Qasem Dawood Ali, an NGO worker in Aden, said that bodies are were lying in the city’s streets as hospitals filled with the wounded. Qasem Dawood Ali, a worker at a nongovernmental organization in Aden, said bodies were lying in the city’s streets as hospitals filled with the wounded.
“Right now there is heavy bombing from Houthi tanks near the airport and you can also hear the explosions coming from the weapons-storage facility,” he said by telephone. “Aden is falling apart.”“Right now there is heavy bombing from Houthi tanks near the airport and you can also hear the explosions coming from the weapons-storage facility,” he said by telephone. “Aden is falling apart.”
Naylor reported from Beirut. Erin Cunningham in Cairo and Heba Habib in Sharm el-Sheikh contributed to this report.Naylor reported from Beirut. Erin Cunningham in Cairo and Heba Habib in Sharm el-Sheikh contributed to this report.