By Humera Gul,
Live Wire Intern

Saudi Arabia leads attacks on Yemen rebels; president flees. Photo Courtesy of the L.A. Times.

Saudi Arabia has announced that they had begun air strikes against Shia in Yemen on Wednesday March 25. In the capital of Yemen Sanna, Saudi Arabia targeted Shia group, Houthi’s position. Houthi is a terrorist group that is trying to force Yemen to under its power. They use acts of violence, and instill fear in order to function. The president of Yemen, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s whereabouts are unknown. Some reports pointed that he went to Saudia Arabia, some reports say he is hiding in Eden. However, no one is aware of his whereabouts.

The quick and immediate action involved 100 Saudi jets, 30 from the United Arab Emirates, 15 each from Kuwait and Bahrain, 10 from Qatar, and also Jordan, Morocco, according to CNN. Sudan provided a handful amount of help, as well as the Pakistan and Egypt naval were ready to help them in any way, according to an undisclosed Saudi adviser. However, Oman is the only Gulf Arab state who is not participating.

President of Yemen, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi's

President of Yemen, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s

Houthi’s supreme leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi spoke Thursday night on the following attacks. “If any army tries to invade our country, we will prove that Yemen will be a grave for those who invade us,” Malik said, also adding, “We call on the invaders to stop the attacks and if the airstrikes do not end then we will escalate in a needed
manner.”

“We will make all efforts to control [the] crisis in Yemen,” Iranian Foreign Minister
Mohammad Javad Zarif said, according to Iranians Student News Agency. Secretary of State John Kerry said foreign ministers from Saudia Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Behrain and Oman that US is providing, “logistical and intelligence support.” Kerry expressed his concerns over the region, but a senior official of President Barack Obama’s said, “There will be no military intervention by the U.S.”

The Houdis are a Shia militia group similar to Al-Qaeda. Yemen is a country that is mostly Sunni but has a reasonable Shia population. The President of Yemen is gone as he has left his position. He didn’t officially step down but under Houdi pressure he has left his position vacant.

“The air strikes would lead only to greater loss of life,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said. Iran denies they are defending the Houdis but it is clear that Iran is against this war.

The civil war that is boiling in Yemen is between the Houdis and Yemen’s General People Committee. Yemen’s General People Committee were the last standing government in Yemen. This conflict mostly involves a Shia versus Sunni Muslim tension. Similar feuds have hurt Iraq and the progress of Iraq as a country.