Obama's Support for Saudi Operations in Yemen

Barack Obama, the President of the United States, has told King Salman of Saudi Arabia that Washington is ready to support the Saudi-led military operations against the Houthis in Yemen. The emphasis on U.S. support for Saudi air operations against the Shia Houthi militants occurred during a phone conversation between the U.S. President and the Saudi King on Friday, April 7. According to AFP, Bernadette Meehan, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, stated: "The President and King Salman agreed that our common goal is to achieve lasting security in Yemen through a negotiated political solution." Meehan also added that this solution should be achieved through "the United Nations and with the participation of all political parties, as outlined in the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative." Iran has been accused of supporting the Shia Houthis, and the Islamic Republic has expressed strong anger over Saudi operations against them. Previously, Ali Akbar Velayati, an international affairs advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei, stated: "Iran supports the Houthis' struggles in Yemen." Velayati expressed hope that Ansar Allah (the other name for the Houthi movement) would play a role similar to that of Hezbollah in Lebanon. At the same time, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials, that the U.S. military is preparing to increase intelligence support, provide bombs, and refuel aircraft involved in the Saudi-led operations. The U.S. had previously stated that it would closely and coordinately support Saudi Arabia and regional powers in their military operations against the Houthi rebels in Yemen with intelligence and logistical support. U.S. military forces also rescued two Saudi pilots who reportedly had to make an emergency exit from their aircraft during air operations against the Houthis near the coast of Yemen. Saudi Arabia has cited technical failure as the reason for the crash of its F-15 aircraft. Three days after the start of airstrikes, a Saudi military official stated that the coalition led by the country has taken full control of Yemen's skies. Saudi Arabia claims that it and its allies currently have no plans for ground operations in Yemen; "but if necessary, the ground forces of Saudi Arabia and friendly and brotherly countries are ready to respond to any aggression."