What You Need to Know About Yemen
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Jon Gorr/iStock/Thinkstock(SANA’A, Yemen) — Despite Saudi Arabia’s announcement Tuesday that its month-long bombing campaign in Yemen had reached its end, the conflict gripping the country is not likely to be resolved quickly.
The United Nations estimates more than 1,000 people, including more than 300 civilians, were killed in “Operation Decisive Storm,” the U.S.-supported coalition campaign targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, the United States announced this week its decision to move an aircraft carrier and naval cruiser closer to Yemen, joining seven other U.S. ships, though officials say U.S. ships likely won’t board or intercept an Iranian convoy of ships believed to be carrying weapons for the Houthis.
A statement from National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan on Wednesday welcomed the conclusion of the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. “We look forward to a shift from military operations to the rapid, unconditional resumption of all-party negotiations that allow Yemen to resume an inclusive political transition process,” Meehan said.
She called for the Houthis and their supporters in particular to return to negotiations. The goal, she said, is to “hold a peaceful debate about their new constitution…participate in a credible and safe constitutional referendum, and…vote in free and fair national elections.”
The Saudi Embassy in Washington tweeted out a message from the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S. Adel Al-Jubeir Wednesday. In the message, Jubeir acknowledged the “limited” objectives involved in the military campaign and expressed hope that Yemen’s war was turning against the Houthi rebels.
Amb. Al-Jubeir: We hope the Houthis will participate in the political process. We will not allow the Houthis to take #Yemen by force.
— Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) April 22, 2015
VIDEO: Amb. Al-Jubeir holds press conference on Operation Renewal of Hope in #Yemen http://t.co/WrqB3L7u9Z
— Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) April 22, 2015
“We hope the Houthis will participate in the political process,” Jubeir said, “we will not allow the Houthis to take #Yemen by force.”
Watch the ABC News digital original video below to learn more about the situation in Yemen.
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