Saudi Arabia, allies launch airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen

Saudi Arabia and a coalition of regional allies launched airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, the start of a military operation to protect the government, the kingdom's ambassador to the US said on Wednesday.

"The operation is to defend and support the legitimate government of Yemen and prevent the radical Houthi movement from taking over the country," Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Washington.

Al-Jubeir said the coalition involved the countries of an existing alliance, the Gulf Cooperation Council, but that it had been joined by "outside countries".

"We have a coalition of over 10 countries that will participate in these operations to prevent Yemen from falling at the hands of the Houthis," he said.

Separately, a statement issued in Riyadh in the name of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates - the GCC countries without Yemen's neighbour Oman - said they had been asked for help by President Abd Rabbuh Hadi's embattled government.

Al-Jubeir said that for the moment the action was confined to airstrikes on various targets around Yemen, but that other military assets were being mobilised and that the coalition "would do whatever it takes".

The ambassador said he would not go into detail about the support being provided by Saudi Arabia's allies, but added "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.”

"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," he said, arguing that the Houthi advance could not be tolerated.

Al-Jubeir said that the legitimate government of Yemen was involved in a political process that had the support of the international community and that no "outside militia" would be allowed to interfere with that. 

Meanwhile, senior administration officials from the US told CNN that an “interagency US coordination team” is in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi officials will likely ask for American satellite imagery, air support and other intelligence, according CNN’s sources.

The airstrikes targeted al-Daylami airbase and the adjacent international airport in north Sanaa, as well as the presidential complex seized by the rebels in January, according to military sources.

Other military bases that have been seized by the rebels and their allies were also targeted, the sources said.

Large explosions were heard in the Yemeni capital as heavy anti-aircraft fire lit up the dark skies, witnesses said.

In the south, residents reported hearing large blasts at the main Al-Anad airbase, north of Aden, which was seized by anti-government forces on Wednesday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hadi fled from his residence in Aden amid fighting with Houthi rebels and security forces.

Conflicting reports have emerged as to Hadi’s whereabouts.

Also on Wednesday, armed groups backing Hadi regained control of Aden International Airport, hours after it was taken over by troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

"The vigilantes regained control of the airport after hours of fighting with pro-Saleh troops," a security source told the Anadolu Agency.

According to the source, several people were killed and wounded on both sides.

Yemen has been rocked by turmoil since last September, when the Houthis overran the capital Sanaa, from which they have since sought to extend their influence to other parts of the country.

Late last month, Hadi fled Sanaa - where he had been placed under house arrest by the Houthis - to Aden.

Upon his arrival in the southern city, Hadi dismissed as "null" and "illegitimate" all recently issued Houthi decrees. He also retracted a resignation he had tendered earlier to Yemen's parliament.