Qatar sends combat troops into Yemen

07 September 2015

Doha deploys 1,000 troops, 200 armoured vehicles and 30 fighter helicopters to Yemen

  • Troops to boost ground and air offensive against Houthi militias
  • Development triggered by worst day of fighting so far, which killed 64 soldiers

Doha has sent about 1,000 soldiers supported by 200 armoured vehicles and 30 Apache helicopters in to Yemen, according to Qatar-based broadcaster Al-Jazeera on 7 September.

The move is a significant escalation in Qatar’s involvement in the Saudi-led military intervention to reinstate exiled preseident Abdrabbuh Mansour al-Hadi and regain control from Iran-backed Houthi militias. Until now, Qatar’s involvemment had been limited to the provision of Qatari air force pilots.

The latest development follows an escalation in fighting over the weekend that saw 64 coalition soldiers killed when a Houthi militia rocket hit a munitions depot on 4 September. The dead included 45 troops from the UAE, 10 soldiers from Saudi Arabia and five from Bahrain.

Mourning

The incident prompted Abu Dhabi to declare a three-day mourning period and a visit to the UAE on Saturday by al-Hadi.

UAE warplanes are reported to have responded to the incident by striking a mine-making plant in Saada province in Northern Yemen, which is controlled by the Houthi militias, as well as several military camps and weapon stores in Ibb province.

Reports from Yemen say the esxcalation in violence has led to large numbers of dozens of civilian casualties.

According to the UN, about 4,500 people have been killed, including 2,100 civilains, since the start of the campaign in March.

The UN previoiusly warned that the war has put a significant portion of the country’s population at risk of starvation.

 

 

 

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