Saudi Arabia, allies field 185 warplanes for Yemen strikes

CAIRO

At least 185 warplanes have been deployed in a Saudi-led military offensive by several Arab states against Yemen's Shiite Houthi militant group, according to official figures.

With 100 fighter jets, Riyadh has contributed the largest number of warplanes to the offensive, according to Saudi officials.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), meanwhile, has deployed 30 warplanes, while Kuwait and Bahrain have pitched in with 15 jets each.

Qatar, for its part, said it was contributing ten warplanes, while Jordan and Morocco announced they had contributed six warplanes each.

Sudan has also announced its participation in the offensive, contributing three fighter jets.

Riyadh claims that coalition airstrikes have "completely destroyed" the Houthis' air-defense capabilities.

In a joint statement issued earlier Thursday, five Gulf States – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait – said the operation had come "in response to a request by Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to protect Yemen from the aggression of Houthi militias."

The statement went on to accuse the Houthis of being "the tool of foreign powers that seek to harm Yemen's security and stability."

Egypt and Pakistan, for their part, have signaled their readiness to deploy ground forces for the operation.

The United States also said it was ready to provide logistical and intelligence support for the anti-Houthi offensive.

Saudi Arabia deployed troops along the border with Yemen on Tuesday after the Houthis advanced in force on Yemen's southern city of Aden, where embattled President Hadi remains holed up.

Pakistan considers supporting airstrikes in Yemen

Pakistan has said it is considering an "emergency” request from Saudi Arabia to join a military operation against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called an emergency meeting on Thursday evening to consult with top military and civilian officials over the Saudi request, according to local English-language daily Dawn.

The newspaper quoted National Security and Foreign Affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz saying that their decision will be announced after the meeting's conclusion. 

Earlier, Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam told reporters at a weekly briefing that Saudi Arabia had contacted Pakistan to request its participation in the operation. 

“I can confirm that we have been contacted by Saudi Arabia in this regard and the matter is being examined. That’s all I have to say at the moment,” said Aslam.

She said the Pakistani community in Yemen had been told to prepare for a possible evacuation if security further deteriorates.

“No decision has yet been taken to shut down the Embassy. As per our practice, the community was already cautioned about the possibility of the situation being deteriorating and advised to evacuate. The Embassy has also been alerted," she said. 

Sudan confirms participation in anti-Houthi campaign

Sudanese Foreign Minister Abdul Rahim Mohamed Hussein said Thursday that his country would contribute ground forces to a Saudi-led offensive against Yemen's Shiite Houthi group.

"I have been in contact… with my Saudi counterpart since yesterday; we will participate with air and ground forces," Hussein told a press conference in Sudanese capital Khartoum.

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a military offensive, including airstrikes, against Houthi positions late Wednesday.

Sudan has said it contributed three aircraft to the anti-Houthi campaign.

"We have good relations and a joint defense agreement with Saudi Arabia to which we are committed," Hussein said.

Asked about the impact of Sudan's participation in the anti-Houthi campaign on relations with Iran, the minister said: "Let's be frank – Saudi Arabia and the holy land [Mecca and Medina] are a red line for us."

Predominantly-Sunni Saudi Arabia said the strikes had come in response to calls by embattled Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi for military intervention in Yemen to "save the people from the Houthi militias."

Several Arab states, all of them allies of Washington, have joined a Saudi-led military offensive against Yemen’s Houthi group, which was launched late Wednesday.