Air campaign ends in Yemen

‘ Decisive Storm’ scales back but rebels still a factor

NAJRAN, Saudi Arabia — The Saudi- led “Decisive Storm” air campaign targeting Shiite rebels in Yemen is over, a spokesman for the coalition said Tuesday, but a new phase aimed at preventing the rebels from operating is beginning.

The announcement suggested that the nearly monthlong campaign of heavy airstrikes would be scaled down, but the spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri, did not say they would stop. He said the coalition would continue to interdict rebel movements and protect civilians.

Speaking at a news conference in Riyadh, Asiri said the campaign’s objectives have been met as the rebels’ military capabilities had been destroyed, and that the operation would cease.

He says the rebels, known as Houthis, no longer pose a danger to civilians and that the new phase, called “Renewal of Hope,” will focus on rebuilding the country while denying the rebels operational movement, protecting civilians, and supporting evacuation and relief operations.

“To implement this we will continue to have our operation,” he said. “Inside a city like Aden we will continue to protect civilians to prevent these militias from sustaining their operations,” he said, referring to the southern port city which has seen fierce fighting in recent weeks.

Asiri added that Saudi Arabia’s ground and naval forces would continue to guard its border with Yemen and interdict any shipments to the rebels, and he did not rule out future airstrikes against them.

The U. S.- backed campaign by Saudi Arabia and its allies, mainly Gulf Arab countries, is aimed at crushing the Houthis and allied military units loyal to a former autocrat, who have taken over Sanaa and much of northern Yemen.