Saudis end bombing campaign in Yemen
A Saudi-led coalition Tuesday ended its bombing campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The Decisive Storm campaign achieved its military goals and a new operation, known as Restoring Hope, will begin focusing on finding a political resolution to the conflict in Yemen, according to a report on Saudi state television.
The U.S. had been providing logistical support to the bombing campaign designed to defeat the Iranian-backed Shiite rebels, who drove the Yemeni government from the capital in January.
{mosads}“We welcome their announcement of reaching their prescribed goal and will continue to work with the coalition and legitimate government of Yemen,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Roger M. Cabiness II said in an email.
In addition to brokering a deal to restore Yemen’s government, the next phase of the operation will include security and counterterrorism operations, according to media reports.
The conflict in Yemen has posed challenges to U.S. interests in the Middle East.
Yemen’s government was a key ally in fighting al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and the group has made major gains amid the chaos.
It has also complicated President Obama’s efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran.
The U.S. Navy on Monday sent an aircraft carrier to Yemen as Iran was sending a flotilla of ships, potentially to resupply the Houthi rebels.
The White House on Monday chided Iran for continuing to arm rebel fighters, but would not say whether U.S. forces would board the Iranian ships.
“The principal goal of this operation is to maintain freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest.
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