• Yemen air space under coalition control: Asiri • Saleh calls for ceasefire
Mishal Al-Otaibi Saudi Gazette
SUPPORT for the Saudi-led military operation against Houthi militia in Yemen widened Friday as several Western and other Arab and Muslim countries voiced their full backing to the airstrikes. However, the campaign was met with mixed reactions from Iran, Russia and China as warplanes bombed the northern stronghold of the rebels and key military installations for the second day running. Several Western countries including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Belgium and the European Union voiced their full support to operation “Decisive Storm.” The all round support for the Saudi operation came as Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is close to the Houthi rebels, called for a ceasefire and the resumption of UN-brokered dialogue between warring parties. In a statement, Saleh urged a “simultaneous” halt in military operations, and for dialogue to take place in the United Arab Emirates. In Riyadh, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Asiri, advisor at the office of the minister of defense, said Yemen's air space was completely under coalition control, and that aircraft seized by the Houthis had been destroyed. The allied forces continued their airstrikes for the second day Friday, targeting arsenal of the Houthi militia, including air defense systems, anti-aircraft artillery, ballistic missile launchers, arms depots, SAM missiles, rockets as well as their military bases. Al-Asiri said the United Arab Emirates warplanes intensively participated in airstrikes against Houthi rebels and their allies. All members of the Arab coalition contributed to the operation on Friday, he told reporters. Coalition warplanes raided Al-Anad airbase, north of the key southern city of Aden, Al-Asiri said. It was seized by the Houthis earlier this week. The strikes were aimed at preventing the Houthis using the base, Al-Asiri said, vowing to do whatever was necessary to protect the legitimacy of the government in Aden. He said the airstrikes had also targeted Houthi supply lines between the north and south. “The strikes have disrupted the movement of Houthis in the northern and southern parts of the country,” Al-Asiri said. Coalition aircraft targeted limited movements of Houthis along Yemen's northern border using Apache helicopters and ground artillery, said Al-Asiri. He urged Yemeni civilians to keep away from rebel gatherings or hideouts. “Such militias try to use citizens or civilian gatherings as human shields to avoid coalition strikes,” he added. The United States is coordinating closely with Saudi Arabia and regional allies in the military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen, including providing intelligence and logistical support. “President Obama has authorized the provision of logistical and intelligence support to GCC-led military operations,” National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council. US Secretary of State John Kerry held a conference call with Gulf ministers to discuss the Yemen crisis amid Saudi airstrikes on Houthi rebels, a senior US official said. Britain said the recent Houthi actions and expansion in Yemen are “a further signal of their disregard for the political process.” It also said the “ultimate solution” for Yemen was political in nature. A British Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We support the Saudi Arabian military intervention in Yemen following President Hadi's request for support by ‘all means and measures to protect Yemen and deter Houthi aggression.' As the UN Security Council has made clear, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is Yemen's legitimate President. “The recent Houthi actions and expansion in Aden and Taiz is a further signal of their disregard for the political process. Any action taken should be in accordance with international law.” France said it stands with its partners until Yemen regains stability. It also described “Decisive Storm” as being a response to the “legitimate” Yemen authorities' request. Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Raanders said the military operation in Yemen confirms once again the need to move at the regional level to contain the risk of instability and insecurity. Foreign policy chief the European Union, Federica Mogherini said, military action is not a solution to the crisis in Yemen, urging regional powers to act responsibly. Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Turkey, Morocco and Pakistan have supported the campaign with several countries providing political and military support to the operation. Moscow expressed its “concern” over the situation in Yemen in addition to the country's sovereignty and unity, “which it has always supported.” Moscow called for all parties to desist from using armed power to reach ends. “We believe that a settlement of the crisis cannot be reached without broad national dialogue. Russia continues to closely communicate with all sides in the Yemeni crisis through all channels, including the United Nations, to find peaceful solutions to end armed conflict in Yemen,” a statement from Moscow said. China's Foreign Ministry said it was deeply concerned about the worsening situation in Yemen. Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that China urges all parties to act in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions on Yemen, and to resolve the dispute through dialogue. On Friday, Saleh sent forces loyal to him to block the road connecting Aden and the sea port city of Mukalla, Al Arabiya News Channel reported. In a symbolic move earlier this month, current President Hadi declared Aden the country's capital as Houthi militants overran Sanaa earlier this year. Military officials said other strikes targeted army camps outside Sanaa in Al-Dhale and Lahj provinces, including Al-Annad base, where about 100 US military advisers had been based but were forced to withdraw last weekend due to deteriorating security conditions. Strikes hit at least six provinces including Marib, an area of oil and gas wealth. The attacks there targeted and destroyed radars that the rebels could use to track Saudi warplanes. In the capital of Sanaa, heavy airstrikes came in waves overnight. Explosions rocked the city and anti-aircraft guns were heard returning fire. Hadi, Yemen's US-backed president, fled the country by boat on Wednesday and arrived in Riyadh late on Thursday after transiting through Oman. Late on Friday, Hadi arrived in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh to attend a meeting of Arab leaders this weekend. – With input from agencies.
