Ground invasion of Yemen counterproductive: Russia
A high-ranking Russian diplomat has warned about any Saudi ground incursion into neighboring Yemen, warning that such a military action would only complicate the situation on the ground.
“As far as we know, the Saudis did not rule out a ground operation in some of their statements. In our opinion, it will be counterproductive and will not help settle the situation,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told Interfax news agency on Tuesday.
Gatilov emphasized the need for efforts to find “a political solution” to the crisis in Yemen, adding, however, that “a ground operation by Saudi Arabia could destabilize the situation even further.”
Reports say Saudi Arabia has dispatched paratroopers to southern Yemen to help the forces loyal to fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.
Local media said late on Monday that Saudi aircraft airdropped the paratroopers as well as arms cargos to the port city of Aden and parts of neighboring Ad Dali’ Province.
The reports added that Saudi fighter jets also targeted Yemeni military forces in Ad Dali’ at the same time.
The development came days after an unnamed Saudi official confirmed that Saudi special forces are involved in the kingdom’s aggression against Yemen.
He said on Saturday that the Saudi army and naval special forces have carried out specific operations in Yemen.
The Saudi official added that the army and naval special forces have provided the militants in Yemen with “coordination and guidance” against Popular Committees.
Saudi Arabia’s air campaign against Yemen started on March 26 without a UN mandate in a bid to restore power to Hadi.
Yemen’s former president stepped down in January and refused to reconsider the decision despite calls by the Houthi Ansarullah movement.
However, the Houthis later said Hadi lost his legitimacy as president of Yemen after he escaped Sana’a to Aden in February.
On March 25, the embattled president fled Aden, where he had sought to set up a rival power base, to Riyadh after Ansarullah revolutionaries advanced on the port.
Ansarullah fighters and their allies are now advancing southward while they have also stepped up the fight against al-Qaeda terrorists and secured many areas.
The World Health Organization says more than 540 people have been killed and some 1,700 others wounded by the violence in Yemen since March 19.
MP/MKA/SS
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