Gulf states to answer Yemen president`s call for protection
Five Gulf states said Thursday that they will protect Yemen`s embattled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi against Shiite rebels that have closed in on the city of Aden, where he took refuge after fleeing the capital Sanaa.
Trending Photos
Riyadh: Five Gulf states said Thursday that they will protect Yemen`s embattled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi against Shiite rebels that have closed in on the city of Aden, where he took refuge after fleeing the capital Sanaa.
The statement came as Saudi Arabia`s ambassador in Washington said the kingdom has launched a military operation against the rebels.
"The operation is to defend the legitimate government," Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Washington.
The statement from Riyadh included all members of the Gulf Cooperation Council except Oman.
Yemen has been gripped by growing turmoil since the Shiite Huthi rebels launched a power takeover in Sanaa in February.
The strife has raised fears Yemen could be torn apart by a proxy war between Shiite Iran, accused of backing the rebels, and Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, which supports Hadi.
Yemen`s acting foreign minister Riyad Yassin warned Wednesday that the fall of Aden would mean the "start of civil war" as he drummed up Arab military support for Hadi, who was taken to a safe haven "within Aden" as the rebels closed in.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.
Advertisement
Live Tv
Advertisement