Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri, consultant at the minister of defense's office said today that the goals of phase I of the operations were achieved through air supremacy, citing the use of state-of-the-art air warplanes and logistics to destroy air defenses of the Houthi militia, attack their airbases, devastate on-the-ground aircraft and ballistic missiles and silence the command and control centers. In his first 'determination storm' operation daily briefing, he said the storm began in the first hour of March 26 with air raids to secure a number of objectives, including paralyzing the air defenses, particularly Sam missiles and anti-aircraft artillery. He said the storm's pilots were able in the first 15 minutes of the raids to have a complete control on the skies of Yemen, a successful achievement of phase I of the operation. He explained that each air sortie consists of a big number of aircraft, including the fighters, refueling, early warning, reconnaissance, search and rescue. He added that a number of warplanes took part, with the Saudi ones in the front. Asiri said Sanaa-based Al-Dilaimi airbase which includes a big number of warplanes, ammunition inventories, maintenance centers and technical support for aircraft was a major goal of the operation. He made a presentation of today's sorties that took the Houthis by surprise. He said the operation timed with a number of armed terrorist groups making their way towards the southern border of the Kingdom with Yemen. He added that they were completely destroyed by air and land forces warplanes, an operation climaxing today's operations. Then, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri, Adviser at the Minister of Defense's office answered the reporters' questions. On the participation of ground forces in the operations, he said: Currently there no plan to the participation of ground forces in the ongoing operation during the current stages, but if necessary, the Saudi ground forces are ready as well as the ground forces of friendly and sisterly countries to deter any aggression of any kind. On the expected duration of the operations, the nature of the terrain in Yemen, he explained that the operations will continue as long as there is a need for their continuation to achieve all its objectives and as for Yemeni terrain, all know it is difficult terrain, but the armed forces and coalition's forces are able to act under all circumstances. On encountering hostile media which claimed yesterday that two Saudi aircraft were shut down, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri emphasized that all the aircraft participated in the operation returned safely to their air bases. Regarding information that reported on an Iranian attempt to intervene across the sea and that the Egyptian navy has dealt with this threat, Brig. Gen. Asiri said: the operation's goals were clear, aerial targets, stressing that the brotherly and friendly countries operate concurrently and in integration with the Saudi armed forces, and the goal is to prevent Houthi militias from damaging the Yemeni people and its neighbors, topped by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and we won't allow any supplies for Houthi rebel organization until the end of this operation. On the future of military operations in the case of possible transferring to ground operations, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri said: In such cases, we have to be at a level of readiness, taking into account all the possible circumstances and the forces are ready to deal with any threats, whether air, land, yet there are no ground operations right now, but if necessary, we are ready for that. At the conclusion of the conference, he said that every evening a daily briefing on the progress of 'Determination Storm' Operation' will be presented while the reporters' questions will be answered at the same time.
