Saudi Arabia launches air strikes in Yemen

 

Saudi Arabia has launched air strikes in Yemen against Shia Houthi rebels, the Saudi ambassador in the US has said.

Adel al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia acted to "defend the legitimate government" of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.
Supporters of President Hadi say that they recaptured Aden airport on Thursday after heavy fighting with forces allied to Houthi fighters.
The Iran-backed rebels have made rapid gains in recent months.

They have forced Mr Hadi to flee the capital Sanaa.

  
News footage of the strikes broadcast by Saudi-owned Al-Hadath TV showed flashing lights and apparent machine gun fire.
Meanwhile Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi rebel, warned that the Saudi operation amounted to an aggression against Yemen and could set off a "wide war" in the region, according to Reuters news agency.
Saudi Arabia is supplying 100 warplanes and 150,000 soldiers for the operation, Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television reported on Thursday.
Jordanian officials say that its air force jets are taking part in the operation.
In addition the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said that the operation had the support of Sudan, Morocco, Egypt and Pakistan which were willing if necessary to take part.
Earlier Mr Hadi appealed to members of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) to intervene.
SPA said GCC members Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates agreed to answer President Hadi's call for help.

Security compromised

In the US, White House spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said President Barack Obama had authorised logistical and intelligence support for the operation.
But she stressed that "US forces are not taking direct military action in Yemen".
Recent developments have also raised fears that Iran - Saudi Arabia's regional rival - could be drawn into the conflict.