‘Egypt to join ground offensive in Yemen’

Three Egyptian military and security officials say that a coalition of countries led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia will conduct a ground invasion into Yemen once the airstrikes have sufficiently diminished the Houthis’ forces. They say the assault will be by ground from Saudi Arabia and by landings on Yemen’s Red and Arabian Sea coasts.

The aim is not to occupy Yemen but to weaken the Houthis and their allies until they enter negotiations for power-sharing, the officials say.

They say three to five Egyptian troop carriers are stationed off Yemen’s coasts. They don’t specify the numbers of troops or when the operation will begin.

Egypt’s presidency says that its naval and air forces are participating in the coalition campaign already. Egypt is “prepared for participation with naval, air and ground forces if necessary,” Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri says at a gathering of Arab foreign ministers preparing for a weekend Arab summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

— AP