GCC forces led by Saudi Arabia have launched military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Riyadh has announced.

Speaking in Washington on 25 March, Adel al-Jubeir, Riyadh’s ambassador to the US, said the kingdom had launched military action in Yemen in coalition with its GCC allies to counter Houthi Shia forces besieging the southern city of Aden, where Saudi-backed Yemen President Abd Rabbu Mansour al-Hadi has taken refuge.

Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia had acted to “defend the legitimate government” of Al-Hadi.

He said Riyadh “will do anything necessary” to protect the people of the neighbouring Yemen and “the legitimate government of Yemen”.

Al-Jubeir told reporters that a 10-country coalition had joined the military campaign and a statement issued by the Saudi Press Agency on 25 March said Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE would answer a call for help from Al-Hadi.

Shortly after Al-Jubeir’s announcement, unidentified warplanes were reported to have launched an attack on Sanaa’s airport and its Al-Dulaimi military airbase.

GCC support

In a statement on 25 March, US President Barack Obama said the US supported the GCC-led operation and that he had authorised US “logistical and intelligence support”.

“While US forces are not taking direct military action in Yemen in support of this effort, we are establishing a joint planning cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate US military and intelligence support,” said a statement from the White House.

Fugitive president

The Houthi Shia rebels from the north of Yemen have made rapid gains in the south of the country in recent months, forcing Al-Hadi to flee the capital, Sanaa.

News agency Reuters reported a senior Houthi rebel, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, as warning that the Saudi operation amounted to an aggression against Yemen and could set off a “wide war” in the region.

Other reports on 25 March said Al-Hadi had fled his palace in Aden as the rebels advanced towards the southern port city. But government officials denied this.

Yemen’s state television, which is controlled by the rebels, announced on 25 March a ransom for anyone who captures the “fugitive” president.

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