War: Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen

The Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, made the announcement on Wednesday evening in Washington. He said the operation began at 7 pm EDT in order “to prevent Yemen from falling into the hands of the Houthis,” the rebels.

The operation was an extraordinary development that could plunge Yemen into full-out war. The ambassador said that military forces from several countries were preparing to join the operation, apparently referring to Saudi Arabia’s Gulf allies. He said the air strikes had targeted sites around the country, including in its capital, Sanaa. The Saudi government had consulted “very closely and very intensely with our partners, in particular the United States,” he said.

Jubeir said the operation would continue until President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi was returned to office. “THe operations are limited to defending the governmetn and preventing its collapse,” he said.