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Arabia
Saudis announce onset of military intervention in Yemen
2015-03-26
[Iran Press TV] Soddy Arabia
...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
has begun launching Arclight airstrikes in Yemen where the Ansarullah fighters have acquired power, says the monarchy's ambassador to the United States​.

Warplanes of the Royal Saudi Air Force reportedly bombed the positions of the Ansarullah fighters and launched attacks against the Sana'a airport and the Dulaimi airbase early on Thursday.

A Saudi warplane was shot down by the country's air defense system, the al-Alam television reported.

There were reports of fatalities among civilians after Arclight airstrikes.

"The operation is to defend the legitimate government," Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi envoy to the US, told news hounds in a rare news conference at the Saudi embassy in Washington on Wednesday, referring to the administration of President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi whose whereabouts are unknown after reportedly fleeing the country earlier in the day.

Jubeir added that the current situation in Yemen "is not an option" for Riyadh, saying the operation began at 7 p.m. Eastern Time (2300 GMT).

He further accused the Houthi
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The Yemeni government has accused the Houthis of having ties to the Iranian government, which wouldn't suprise most of us. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the Jews ...
fighters of having "always chosen the path of violence," claiming Riyadh would do "anything necessary" for "the legitimate government" of the Arab world's most impoverished county.

"We consulted very closely with many of our allies and in particular with the United States. We are very pleased with the outcome of those discussions," he said. "We have a situation where you have a militia group that is now in control or can be in control of ballistic missiles, heavy weapons and an air force."
Posted by:Fred

#19  As per FREEREPUBLIC, Egyptian troops will be joining Saudi ground forces inside Yemen.

* Also ...
> IRAN = demanding an immediate halt to any + all Milactions in Yemen, espec agz the Houthis, LEST NECESSARY MEASURES BE FORCIBLY UNDERTAKEN BY IRAN.
> EGYPT = claims to had driven off Iranian naval vessels trying to enter the Port of Aden.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2015-03-26 22:42  

#18  What about Iranian moves around Musandam Peninsula in Oman?

It's possible, condor. It'd definitely put a crimp in access via Hormuz.

Given that the Sultan of Oman has been on a charm offensive with Iran probably due to Iran's actions (but who also has a small but highly professional military,) Iran may prefer to have Oman on the sidelines at this point.
Posted by: Pappy   2015-03-26 20:35  

#17  What about Iranian moves around Musandam Peninsula in Oman? I remember reading about suspected infiltration there by Iranian forces out of Bandar Abbas a year or so ago.
Posted by: 3dc   2015-03-26 19:31  

#16  Alan, I'd be looking for Iranian moves in the Horn of Africa.
Posted by: Pappy   2015-03-26 18:41  

#15  Should I be watching for Iran to start moving south in Iraq?

This situation is fraught............Zero really struck out here.
Posted by: AlanC   2015-03-26 18:26  

#14  So, WW III begins. Breakout the popcorn and Iodine tablets.
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2015-03-26 14:32  

#13  As long as the Soods are getting their "expendables" from us, I think it's a Win-Win-Win.
Posted by: Hupineger Glomomp52169   2015-03-26 13:07  

#12  ^ "Fore!"
Posted by: Frank G   2015-03-26 11:41  

#11  Obama saying anything?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2015-03-26 10:47  

#10  #8 I'd watch that closely. America has an oversupply created by a law that prohibits/inhibits export, so there is no reason for international demand to effect the price at the pump less, of course, collusion by the Cronies of Washington.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2015-03-26 10:33  

#9  So, anyone for "Iran-Iraq" war, version 2.0?
May it be long, bloody, and contained to the combatants.
Posted by: Nguard   2015-03-26 09:24  

#8  Cheap gasoline could go away in a hurry.
Posted by: Glenmore   2015-03-26 08:20  

#7  Appears to be boiling down to a Sunni vs, Shia conflict. I don't think we have any allies in that mix. Saudis don't seem too interested in ISIS or AQ; other players in Yemen. The mess/failure in the Mideast and North Africa will be Obama's legacy along with all the others messes/failures. He's really not good at this--far worse than Carter or Harding.
Posted by: JohnQC   2015-03-26 08:14  

#6  Phil, agree, I said similar things over the last couple of days.

This is another, and potentially the biggest, failure of Obama's world view and "smart" diplomacy. What happens now to his Iranio-centric strategy?

How far will he back the Shiia vs. the Sunni?
I know he bowed to the King of SA, but that was then. How close to WWIII will we get this time, and would this be his excuse to totally abrogate the constitution?

I'm too old to want to live in "interesting" times.
Posted by: AlanC   2015-03-26 07:42  

#5  Egyptian friends are reporting on Facebook that President al Sisi is sending Egyptian forces to participate alongside the Saudis, and that Iran has forces in Eritrea. Interesting times just got more interesting.
Posted by: trailing wife   2015-03-26 05:08  

#4  As per FREEREPUBLIC, the Saudis are repor committing 100 aircraft + 150,000 troops to Yemen.
Other Net Blogs repor that Egypt, Morocco, + Nuke-armed Pakistan will join the KSA-led Coalition.

* SPUTNIKE NEWS > HOUTHIS VOW TO FIGHT BACK IN YEMEN [agz KSA + Gulf Arab Allies] WID ALL MEANS AVAILABLE - OFFICIAL.

Senior Houthi Official MOHAMMED AL-BUKTAITHI.

VERSUS

* JAPAN TIMES > YEMEN LEADER'S FALL IS BLOW TO US [POTUS Obama = Counter-Terror strategy collapse], AS EMBASSY CLOSURE AND TROOPS PULLOUT DAMAGE OPERATION AGZ AL-QAIDA.

* TOPIX > US MILITARY OFFICIALS FEAR IRAN MILITIAS COULD [turn on +] ATTACK US TROOPS IN IRAQ.

This was before the KSA began their Yemen MilOp - prolly safe to say the USDOD is more nervousy twitchy now and walking a much thinner tightrope as its two ME BFFS KSA + IRAN MILPOL FACE OFF AGZ ONE ANOTHER.

NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR CHINA-VS-JAPAN IN EAST ASIA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2015-03-26 02:58  

#3  3dc, if this spills out of Yemen. It will go hot quickly, and any Israeli action against Iran could well be moot, as others will be bombing Iran.
Posted by: phil_b   2015-03-26 02:44  

#2  Phil if it ends up Iran vs Saudi ... Israel could observe or sneak in a raid or two here and there.
Posted by: 3dc   2015-03-26 01:38  

#1  Shouldn't be a surprise. I said the other day, that the Saudis can't have Iranian backed shiias in control in their front and back yards.

The next issue is whether the Iran responds in the Gulf, Bahrain? the Omani enclave on the Straits of Hormuz?
Posted by: phil_b   2015-03-26 01:21  

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