SANAA - Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition bombed Huthi rebels Thursday in support of Yemen’s embattled president, who headed to an Arab summit to garner support as Iran warned the intervention was “dangerous”.
Powerful explosions rocked Sanaa soon after rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi criticised the intervention as “unjustified” and called for supporters to confront the “criminal oppressive aggression”.
President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi arrived in Riyadh, with officials saying he was on his way to Egypt to take part in a two-day Arab League summit starting Saturday.
That was the first confirmation of Hadi’s whereabouts since the rebels began advancing this week on the main southern city of Aden, where the president had been holed up since fleeing the rebel-controlled capital last month.
Their advance raised Saudi fears the Shiite rebels would seize control of the whole of its Sunni-majority neighbour and take it into the orbit of Shiite Iran.
The White House voiced concerns about “reports of Iranian flow of arms into Yemen” as the Saudi-led coalition declared its first wave of strikes “successful” and vowed to prevent supplies reaching the rebels.
Saudi Arabia launched air strikes before dawn, saying it had assembled a coalition of more than 10 countries, including five Gulf monarchies.
The Saudi ambassador to the US, Adel al-Jubeir, said the coalition stood ready to do “whatever it takes” to protect Hadi’s government.
On the eve of the Egypt summit, Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi also declared full support for the strikes following a “coup”.
But Iran reacted furiously, condemning the intervention as “a dangerous step” that violated “international responsibilities and national sovereignty”.
President Hassan Rouhani said it amounted to “military aggression” and “condemned all military intervention in the internal affairs of independent nations”.
After hitting targets overnight in Sanaa and elsewhere, the coalition launched fresh strikes late Thursday, hitting a rebel-held base in third city Taez and the airport and an arms depot in the Huthis’ northern stronghold.
Explosions had been heard earlier in Sanaa as warplanes pounded an air base adjacent to the international airport and other locations, an AFP correspondent reported.
Families streamed out of Sanaa seeking the relative safety of the provinces.
“I am leaving with my family.
Sanaa is no longer safe,” said one resident, who gave his name only as Mohammed, as he piled his belongings into a minibus.
In the south, residents reported hearing explosions at the huge Al-Anad air base, north of Aden, which anti-government forces seized on Wednesday.
Saudi television said the kingdom had deployed 100 fighter jets to the operation, while the United Arab Emirates had committed 30, Kuwait 15 each and Qatar 10.
Bahrain said it had committed 12 fighters.
Saudi Arabia had also mobilised 150,000 troops near the border.
Riyadh said it was boosting security on its borders and across the kingdom, including at the OPEC kingpin’s crucial oil facilities.
Washington said President Barack Obama had authorised the “provision of logistical and intelligence support” for the campaign.
US officials told AFP Washington was looking at providing refuelling and early warning radar aircraft in support of the operation.
A Saudi adviser said the strikes had taken out Huthi air defences and destroyed numerous fighter planes, adding that the air force “has pretty much secured most of the Yemeni air space”.
Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan said they were joining the campaign.
Egypt, whose government announced it was prepared to commit ground troops, said its air force and Navy were taking part in response to “demands by the Yemeni nation for the return of stability and to preserve its Arab identity”.
Like Iran, Shiite-majority Iraq said it opposed the Saudi intervention, with Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari calling for a peaceful settlement, and Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah accused Riyadh of “aggression”.
US Secretary of State John Kerry held a conference call with Gulf ministers to discuss the operation and “commended the work of the coalition taking military action against the Huthis,” a senior US official said.
The Saudi adviser said his country’s defence minister warned the son of ousted Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, “who is commanding the attack on Aden that his forces face ‘obliteration’ if they continue their push” on the city.
Saleh, who resigned in 2012 following a year of nationwide protests, is accused of allying with the rebels, relying on the loyalty of many army units that he built during his three-decade rule.
Dozens of people have been killed as the Huthis, backed by troops allied with Saleh, have clashed with pro-Hadi forces in their drive southwards.
Yemen has been gripped by growing turmoil since the Huthis launched a power takeover in Sanaa in February.
The Saudi-led intervention triggered a sharp rise in world oil prices on fears the conflict could threaten supplies.
Washington insisted the intervention would have “no impact” on nuclear talks with Tehran, as last-ditch efforts to reach a deal before a Tuesday deadline were launched in Switzerland.
“We have always been clear that the P5+1 negotiations are solely focused on the nuclear issue,” a senior US official told AFP, referring to the group of six nations engaged in talks.
FACTBOXA coalition of more than 10 countries had joined the military campaign to try to protect Hadi’s government in Yemen.
UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar signed a joint statement with Saudi Arabia announcing the military action, leaving Oman as the only member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) not to join the coalition.
Egypt, Jordan and Sudan said their forces were involved in the operation, with Sudan pledging ground troops as well as warplanes.
Pakistan said it was considering a request from Saudi Arabia to send ground forces.
Morocco declared its support for the Saudi-led operation, but did not confirm or deny earlier reports by Gulf broadcaster al-Arabiya that it had sent fighter jets.
The White House said the United States would give logistical and intelligence support.
Turkey also declared its support.
Iran demanded an immediate halt to military action, while China expressed concern and called for dialogue. The following is a list of countries that have confirmed their participation in the coalition:
Saudi Arabia leads the coalition and deployed 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and some naval units.
- The UAE deployed 30 fighter jets.
- Bahrain deployed 15 fighter jets.
- Kuwait deployed 15 fighter jets.
- Qatar deployed 10 fighter jets.
- Jordan’s six jets involved.
- Sudan said its air and ground forces would take part in the operation.
Three fighter jets were involved.
- Egypt said its naval and air forces were involved in the campaign.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said ground forces could become involved “if necessary”.
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