Saudi Arabia Stikes Yemen Airport, UN Evacuates Staff

The Saudi-led strikes against Yemen continued over the weekend on the capital of Sanaa against the Shiite Houthi group.

“There is a direct targeting of Houthis,” explained Saudi Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri. “[The fighters jets] are available around the lock in all of Yemen to prevent a Houthi buildup.”

Asiri also told reporters the Houthis moved “ballistic missiles between civilian homes.” The Houthis allegedly captured this equipment from Yemen’s army. Asiri said these missiles “were primary targets for the coalition.”

President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi told his allies “to keep up the bombing until the Houthi Shi’ite rebels are defeated.” The warplanes hit camps that are loyal to former President Ali Abdullash Saleh and air defense bases in al-Hodayda. No one reported any casualties. Attacks on Saturday night “hit the largest military base in the capital.” The Houthis refused to disclose the death toll.

“I call for this operation to continue until this gang surrenders and withdraws from all locations it has occupied in every province,” said Hadi at the Arab League summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh. “I say to Iran’s puppet and whoever is with him, you are the one who destroyed Yemen with your political immaturity.”

The United Nations evacuated their employees from Yemen due to the attacks. The UN told the media over 140 people left on airplanes for Ethopia. Other employees left by sea from the ports of al-Hodeidah and Aden.

Warplanes bombed Yemen’s main airport and a renegade troop base in the capital on Sunday, only a few hours after the UN evacuation. A source claimed the attack “was the first time they hit the runway” and “[T]he airport is completely out of service.” Another official claimed they already started to repair the runway and airport. When the airstrikes paused, Pakistan managed to evacuate over 500 of their people from Yemen.

“Around 500 Pakistani nationals were evacuated on Pakistani planes after the coalition forces provided a safe passage for them,” announced Saudi military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri. “They were evacuated and arrived back in their country.”

Pakistan is an ally of Saudi Arabia, but officials did not say whether the country will send any warplanes to help in Yemen.

“We have made no decision to participate in this war,” said Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. “We didn’t make any promise. We have not promised any military support to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. So many minorities and sects live in Pakistan. Whatever assurances we give Saudi Arabia is to defend its territorial integrity, but I assure (you) that there is no danger of us getting involved in a sectarian war.”