Saudi warns it will continue war on Houthis

Despite Tuesday’s announcement that Operation Decisive Storm had ended, Saudi Ambassador to Washington Adel Al-Jubeir said yesterday that his country’s army would resume using force to curb the Houthi militia’s advance in Yemen, American media reported.

In a press conference, Al-Jubeir said: “When the Houthis or their allies make aggressive moves there will be a response. The decision to calm matters now rests entirely with them [Houthis].”

Al-Jubeir also said that Saudi forces, which were reported to have carried out at least 12 airstrikes in southern Yemen yesterday, were ready to stop any Houthi advance into the port of Aden.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reported that the ambassador had expressed doubt that the Houthis would embrace peace talks. It reported him saying that they have violated many previous agreements.

Al-Jubeir said the battlefield was shifting because the Saudis have destroyed much of the Houthis’ advanced weaponry.

He said Yemen’s “popular committees”, backed by Saudi military aid, would intensify efforts to recapture the capital and other Houthi-controlled areas, according to the Washington Post.