Saudi Arabia: We currently have no plans for ground operations in Yemen

A military spokesman for Saudi Arabia stated that the country currently has no plans for ground operations in Yemen, but its military forces are prepared to take action if necessary. According to Reuters, General Ahmed Asiri said at a press conference on Thursday, April 6, that there are no plans for ground operations at this stage, but if needed, Saudi ground forces and allied countries are ready to respond to any aggression. According to AFP, this military spokesman of the Saudi army stated that the first wave of airstrikes by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries against Houthi militia positions has been 'successful' and emphasized that these attacks will continue until the designated objectives are achieved. Ahmed Asiri did not provide further details regarding the designated objectives. On Thursday, Saudi Arabia and several Arab countries conducted a joint operation targeting areas controlled by Houthi militants and their allies. The Arabic-language television network Al Arabiya reported that fighter jets from Morocco, Kuwait, Sudan, the Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain participated in this operation. The report also indicated that Jordan and Egypt have expressed their readiness to join the operations against the Houthis. Al Arabiya had previously reported that Saudi Arabia has stationed 100,000 troops and 100 fighter jets at its borders with Yemen. The President of Turkey has also stated that his country is ready to provide logistical support to Saudi Arabia. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Iran and terrorist groups must leave Yemen. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced Washington's support for their operations against the Houthi militants during a phone conversation with his counterparts in the Gulf Arab states on Thursday. The U.S. State Department stated that Kerry mentioned providing logistical support, including information, military advice, and tracking against Houthi forces during this phone call. Additionally, Jeff Rathke, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said that Kerry had a brief discussion with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, regarding the Yemen crisis. This spokesman clarified that the conversation between Kerry and Zarif was short and not centered on their discussions in Lausanne, Switzerland. Meanwhile, reports indicate that foreign ministers of Arab League member states reached an agreement on Thursday in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, regarding a draft resolution to form a rapid response force. The developments in the Yemen crisis have entered a new phase with the airstrikes by Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries against Houthi-controlled positions. While Houthi forces and their allies have made advances towards Aden, Arab networks reported on Thursday that forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the President of Yemen, managed to push back Houthi militants. It was also reported on Thursday that Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi had left Aden and entered Riyadh under the protection of Saudi forces. International media refer to the current Yemen crisis as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iran is accused of supporting the Shiite Houthi rebels, who took control of Sana'a, Yemen's capital, last September and have recently advanced towards Aden. The Houthi rebels had also taken control of the city of Taiz, Yemen's second-largest city, a few days earlier.