Saudi-led coalition begins new phase in Yemen campaign

Saudi media says military goals have been achieved and operation "Restoration of Hope" to protect civilians has begun.

 

The WHO says at least 944 people have been killed and another 3,487 injured in Yemen since March 19 [Reuters]

The Saudi-led coalition that has been bombing Yemen for almost a month says its military operation 'Decisive Storm' will end at midnight local time and a new campaign aimed at protecting civilians and preventing Houthi fighters from operating will begin.
Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Assiri, the coalition's spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the coalition had achieved its military goals in Yemen and a new operation, called 'Restoration of Hope,' would aim to protect civilians and combat "terrorism."
A few hours after the coalition announcement, senior Houthi leaders said a political deal to end the conflict had almost been reached, the Reuters news agency reported.
Assiri hailed 'Decisive Storm,' a military campaign launched by Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Sunni-ruled Gulf countries on March 26, a "success," before saying it would cease at midnight (21:00 GMT), paving the way for operation 'Restoration of Hope' a "combination of political, diplomatic and military action."

"The coalition has completed the 'Decisive Storm' campaign at the request of the Yemeni government and the President of Yemen," Asseri said.
"The primary goals of the campaign have been achieved and sovereignty has been protected.
"We are able to confirm that the Houthis are no longer a threat to Yemenis or neighbouring countries.
"The Yemeni government will now undertake all necessary actions to start rebuilding the country."
However, Assiri did not rule out future airstrikes against the Houthis and said the coalition would continue to impose a naval blockade on Yemen.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence had earlier said that all heavy weapons and ballistic missiles belonging to the Houthis had been destroyed, that they had imposed restrictions over Yemen’s airspace, and that any possible threats on the kingdom and neighbouring countries had been removed.
Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Jizan on the Saudi-Yemen border, said their had been signs that a change in policy was on the horizon.
"Iranian officials were optimistic of a ceasefire earlier in the day with US naval ships arriving in the region and greater levels of contact between the US and the Saudi monarchy," Vall said.
"Most likely Iran, Saudi Arabia and others have come to some kind of agreement on the conflict."

The coalition announcement came hours after Riyadh said it was preparing to send its elite National Guard to reinforce its border with Yemen.
The National Guard is regarded as the country's best equipped military force, and until now has not been involved in the campaign.
Led by Miteb, the son of the late King Abdullah, the unit is recruited from tribes that have traditionally backed the Saudi royal family.
Earlier on Tuesday, the US defence department confirmed to Al Jazeera that it was sending the USS Theodore Roosevelt and Normandy to ensure vital shipping lanes in the region remain open and safe.
The narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait is a strategic passage separating Yemen from East Africa and serves as a key trade and oil route linking Europe to the east.
Meanwhile, fierce fighting was reported in the coastal city of Aden, with 21 people, including 13 civilians, killed in clashes between pro-Hadi forces and the Houthis, sources said.
Tribal sources reported several deaths in raids and fighting in Shabwa province as clashes also raged in the central province of Ibb, as several civilians were killed in a strike targeting rebel air defence missiles in a residential area, witnesses said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier reported on Tuesday that violence between March 19 and April 17 had killed 944 people and wounded 3,487, and warned that the impoverished nation's health services were on the brink of collapse.
"Major hospitals will soon be completely unable to provide humanitarian and emergency services or to perform operations and provide intensive care to needy patients," the WHO said in a statement.
"This increases the risk of communicable diseases such as measles, which is prevalent in Yemen, as well as polio, which has been eliminated but is now at risk of reappearing," it added.
The WHO said the number of patients able to access health facilities had plummeted since the escalation of hostilities, with a 40 percent drop in the number of daily consultations.
Prices of essential medicines have increased by more than 300 percent, and the shortage of water has increased the risk of diarrhoea and other diseases and is affecting basic hygiene in hospitals and clinics.