SAUDI Defense Minister Prince Muhammad bin Salman is leading the “Operation Decisive Storm” air campaign, launched against Houthi militants in Yemen, alongside Deputy Crown Prince and Interior Minister Prince Mohammad Bin Naif, who is observing the operation. The air campaign is fighting against the Houthi coup in Yemen and in support of legitimate President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Prince Salman had warned Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, the son of Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, against advancing toward Aden. The Houthis have joined force with the loyalists of former President Saleh in their offensive to take control of Yemen, leading Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to order the beginning of the sweeping military operation. As the operation continues, a coalition of all GCC countries, barring Oman, is taking part in the campaign, including Sudan, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has deployed 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and other navy units. Meanwhile, Yemeni forces and loyalists to President Hadi regained control of Aden airport from Houthi militias on Thursday, as a Saudi-led military operation continued to target the Shiite rebels, the Al Arabiya News Channel reported citing sources. A number of top Houthi military commanders were killed on Thursday after Saudi Arabia launched a military operation in Yemen, the Al Arabiya News Channel reported. Abdel Khalik Al-Houthi, Yousef Al-Madani and Youssel al-Fishi were killed in a series of airstrikes conducted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE late Wednesday. A Yemeni military brigade in southern city of Taiz has rebelled against its leader loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh who is allied with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Al Arabiya News Channel reported. Brigade 35 reportedly declared its support for HYPERLINK “http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/03/26/Hadi-leaves-Aden-for-Arab-League-summit-in-Egypt.html” President Hadi, considered by the United Nations as the legitimated leader of the violence-hit country. Saudi fighter jets began bombing the Houthi positions early on Thursday and announced the deployment of 1,500 soldiers for potential ground operations against the militia. Gulf states of the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar also dispatched their war planes for the anti-Houthi military campaign. Egypt said it was dispatching four naval ships to the Gulf of Aden and expressed readiness to contribute ground and air forces to the campaign. — Al-Arabiya
