Bombing Campaign Of Saudi Arabia Officially Ends

The bombing campaign of Saudi Arabia against Houthi rebels in Yemen has ended, the Middle Eastern country announced recently. The next step for the Gulf Arab allies of the United States is to provide a political solution to the crisis.

Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri said the campaign “achieved its goals” through good planning, precise execution and the courage of their troops. The campaign officially ended at midnight. The US-backed bombing was conducted following a request from exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi of Yemen. Asiri said the Houthi rebels no longer posed a threat to the civilian population of the country.

He added that the border of the kingdom with Yemen will continue to be guarded by ground and naval forces. Asiri also said they will seize any shipments meant for the rebels, which enjoy the backing of Iran.

However, the Houthis have maintained their control of the northern half of Yemen. They have also attacked the port city of Aden. The Yemeni president was forced to flee after the rebels took control of Sanaa, capital of Yemen, last January.

Saudi Bombing Campaign - image credit: telegraph.co.uk

Asiri said the next step in the operation is designed to rebuild Yemen and prevent the rebels from operating within the borders of the country. The defense ministry of Saudi Arabia released a statement indicating that the threat to the security of the kingdom and neighboring countries was removed through the bombing campaign of Saudi Arabia. The operation destroyed ballistic missiles and heavy weaponry seized by the Houthi rebels.

Thirty people died in two airstrikes conducted on Tuesday. Officials and residents of the city of Ibb also revealed that around twenty people died following an airstrikes against a Houthi convoy on a bridge. Another nine people perished in an airstrike in the city of Haradh, which is close to the border of Saudi Arabia.

Hadi expressed his confidence on the joint efforts of the coalition and global community in ensuring that the next phase will restore peace in Yemen. He added that the Yemeni people will finally break free from the oppression and subjugation imposed by the Houthi rebels and their supporters.

The end of the bombing campaign of Saudi Arabia was welcomed by Iran. Marziyeh Afkham, spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry, said a military campaign cannot resolve the crisis in Yemen and the ceasefire is step forward in ending the killing of innocent individuals.

Even as the bombing campaign of Saudi Arabia ended, an Iranian convoy of nine cargo ships is currently in international waters off the coast of Yemen.

Posted by James Fried on Wednesday April 22 2015, 10:51 AM EST. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0