Arab coalition ‘has destroyed most of Yemen rebels’ missiles’

Southern Arabian state believed to have 300 Scuds capable of hitting targets deep into Saudi Arabia

By AFP and ToI Staff 28 March 2015, 11:46 pm

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Buildings at the Jabal al-Hadid military camp burn as smoke rises in Aden, Yemen, Saturday, March 28, 2015. Yemeni military officials said an explosion rocked the camp that houses a weapons depot and had been taken by security forces loyal to ousted leader Ali Abdullah Saleh, killing and wounding several people. (photo credit: AP/Yassir Hassan)

Saudi-led airstrikes have destroyed “most” missile capabilities of the Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies, coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assiri said on Saturday.

“We believe that we have destroyed most of these capabilities, but we will continue targeting these missiles wherever” they may be, he told reporters in Riyadh.

Before the Houthis seized power in Sanaa in September, the Yemeni army had various “kinds of missiles… ballistic missiles,” which could hit targets as far as 500 kilometers (310 miles) away, he said.

A Gulf diplomatic official said earlier that the three-day-old campaign had been successful so far, destroying targets including 21 Scud missiles.

The same source has said Yemen’s army has 300 Scuds.

“Since we started operations we are continuing to target this kind of missile,” Assiri said. “We target their storage.”

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman pledged earlier on Saturday that the military campaign in Yemen wouldn’t stop until security and stability are restored. Estimates of how long the campaign could take range from a month to a half a year.

Witnesses said coalition forces on Saturday targeted an air base in the western province of Hodeidah and two rebel bases in the Houthis’ northern stronghold of Saada.

Anti-aircraft fire was also heard across Sanaa, residents said.

The Houthis are backed by Iran as well as by wealthy former strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh who has retained the loyalty of many troops even after being forced to cede the presidency following a year-long popular uprising.