Sudan Confirms Participation in Saudi-Led Operation Against Houthis

Sputnik News

14:42 26.03.2015(updated 14:52 26.03.2015)

Sudan is sending troops and aircraft against the Houthi militants in Yemen, Sudanese Armed Forces spokesman Sawarmi Khalid told Sputnik on Thursday.

KHARTOUM (Sputnik) – Yemeni army received a request from Saudi Arabia in an effort to help protect the government of Yemen's deposed president from Houthi fighters, Sudanese Armed Forces spokesman said.

'The Sudanese Armed Forces have started the movement on the operational positions in Yemen,' Khalid said.

Sudan will provide ground troops and warplanes, the country's Defense Minister Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein said at a press conference on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia and its allies said they initiated the air campaign upon the request of besieged Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Hadi resigned in January after his palace had been attacked by Houthi fighters but the following month disavowed the move.

Other states, including Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt, are participating in the strikes, primarily targeting the country's capital of Sanaa, which has been under Houthi control for several months.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly deployed 100 fighter aircraft and 150,000 troops for the operation.

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