Saudi sends warplanes to Yemen to counter revolutionaries

Saudi Arabia has reportedly deployed warplanes to Yemen in a bid to confront revolutionary Ansarullah forces, sources say.

Security sources said on Sunday that the deployment has been requested by Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.

Earlier in the day, Yemeni Prime Minister Mohamed Basindawa resigned as his resignation was one of the main demands put forth by Houthi movement’s Ansarullah fighters.

Basindawa was close to pro-government Salafist Islah party and had been in office since 2011.

The development comes as Ansarullah fighters have seized government headquarters as well as state TV and radio stations in the Yemeni capital.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, spokesman for the Ansarullah forces wrote on his Facebook page that the seat of government has been captured.

He added that parts of “the military and security apparatus have supported the popular revolt,” including “the general command of the armed forces.”

The country’s army forces loyal to General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, who is the main supporter of the Islah party, have suffered a major defeat in the north of the capital and were forced to surrender to Ansarullah fighters. The general has reportedly fled to the Persian Gulf state of Qatar.

A posting on the Yemeni Interior Ministry's website called on security forces not to confront the revolutionary fighters.

The defeat of Yemeni military forces came after several army units reportedly joined the revolutionary forces.

A week of clashes has killed dozens of people on both sides and forced the suspension of all flights into and out of Sana’a airport, which is situated in the battle zone.

Source URL