SANAA: Yemen’s embattled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has asked Gulf countries to intervene militarily against Shiite rebels who have seized the capital and are advancing toward his new base in the south, his foreign minister told Saudi media Monday.
Riad Yassin said Hadi has also asked the United Nations to impose a no-fly zone so that the rebels, known as Houthis, cannot use the airports they seized. He accused the rebels of being a proxy of Iran, charges they deny.
Yassin spoke to Saudi Al-Hadath TV on Monday. He made similar comments to the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
“Time is not on our side,” Yassin told Al-Hadath. He didn’t say what Gulf military intervention would entail but said the Houthis’ advance toward Hadi’s base in the southern city of Aden must be stopped. He said the rebels want to foil attempts to reach a political solution.
Yassin said the request was made to the Gulf Cooperation Council after warplanes struck near the presidential palace in Aden over the weekend. Hadi was not harmed in the attack.
Hadi seeks Gulf military, UN action
Hadi seeks Gulf military, UN action
