Saudi navy evacuates diplomats from Yemen's Aden: TV

Separately, US military rescued two Saudi pilots ejected from their jet off Yemen's coast


Afp March 28, 2015
Saudi Arabia's navy begins an operation to evacuate dozens of Saudi and foreign diplomats from Aden. PHOTO: AFP

RIYADH: Saudi warships have evacuated dozens of foreign diplomats from Yemen's main southern city Aden, state television reported on Saturday, as the kingdom leads an air war against advancing Shia rebels.

"Saudi naval forces carried out Operation Tornado to evacuate dozens of diplomats, including Saudis, from Aden," the television said.

"They arrived later in Jeddah aboard two Saudi naval vessels."

Read: OPINION: Why Pakistan should not take sides in the Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflict

The evacuation to Saudi Arabia followed deadly fighting in Aden between supporters and opponents of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who took refuge in the port city last month after fleeing the rebel-held capital.

Hadi arrived in Egypt on Friday for a summit with Arab allies, a day after he surfaced in Riyadh.

Read: Pakistan should play negotiator's role rather than take part in Yemen war, says Imran

He went into hiding earlier in the week as rebel forces bore down on Aden and a warplane attacked the presidential palace.

A Saudi-led coalition has carried out three nights of air strikes against the Iranian-backed Huthi rebels and their allies to try to prevent Hadi's fall.

The situation has become increasingly tense in Aden with rebel forces clashing with anti-Huthi militiamen in several areas.

On Friday, at least eight people were killed in fighting around the city's international airport.

Read: Every effort being made to evacuate Pakistanis from Yemen: FO

US military rescues two Saudi pilots off Yemen coast: official

Separately, the US military has rescued two Saudi pilots who ejected from their jet off Yemen's coast, as the kingdom launched air strikes on rebel camps in its violence-wracked neighbor, officials said Friday.

The Saudi F-15 fighter jet appeared to be participating in the operations in Yemen, though a US defense official declined to confirm why the men ejected from the plane or why it went down in international waters late Thursday.

The official said Saudi authorities had enlisted Washington's help in the rescue efforts.

During a telephone call, King Salman thanked President Barack Obama for the rescue, the White House said.

It only took the US military about two hours to rescue the men after being first notified they had ejected from their plane.

The two men, who were rescued by an HH-60 helicopter from Djibouti, were in fit enough a condition to walk, the official added, citing initial reports.

Obama offered US support for the air strikes led by Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies, saying the United States shared a "collective goal" with the kingdom to see stability in Yemen.

Read: Pakistan 'examining' Saudi request over Yemen intervention

 

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ