Yemen Air Strikes: A Guide to The Countries Backing Saudi Arabia
A Saudi-led coalition has been targeting Shia rebels and their allies in a campaign of air strikes, now in its third week. Here’s a look at the Sunni Arab countries involved in the fighting, as well as others backing the operation
Yemenis inspect destroyed houses after a Saudi-led air strike in al-Jiraf district in Sana’a. Photograph: News Agency/Rex Shutterstock
Friday 10 April 2015
Which countries are conducting air strikes?
Saudi Arabia:The kingdom is leading the coalition carrying out air strikes in Yemen, targeting the rebels known as Houthis and their allies, namely forces loyal to the former Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saudi Arabia has deployed about 100 fighter jets, 150,000 soldiers and other navy units for the operation, according to reports by the Saudi-owned satellite news channel al-Arabiya. The kingdom’s military has targeted Yemeni airbases, Houthi camps and missile sites. The military also says its Apache attack helicopters have struck Houthi positions just across the border in northern Yemen. United Arab Emirates:The seven-emirate nation has dispatched its fighter jets in strikes targeting Scud missiles in Yemen, as well as Houthi camps, air defence systems and other military targets, the state-run WAM news agency has reported. It said 30 jets from the UAE were taking part in the strikes.
Smoke rises from the Faj Attan Hill area in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, after a reported air strike by coalition forces. Photograph: AFP/Getty
Who has contributed aircraft to the coalition?
Kuwait: The kingdom has offered 15 fighter jets for the operation, the state-run Kuwait Mews Agency has reported. It is unclear whethere they’ve carried out strikes.
Bahrain:The tiny island kingdom sent 12 fighter jets to take part in the operation, the state-run Bahrain News Agency has reported. It is unclear whether they have carried out strikes.
Qatar: Qatar has contributed 10 fighter jets to the operation, according to WAM. The state-run Qatar News Agency has not reported on the contribution, or whether the jets have taken part in any strikes.
Morocco: The counrty has offered six warplanes to take part in coalition air strikes, the Saudi ambassador to Morocco, Abdulrahman Mohammed al-Judai, has said. Morocco previously stationed six F-16s in the United Arab Emirates, detailed to that country’s military, to target Islamic State in air strikes as part of a US-led coalition against the extremists. Morocco has offered no specific details about its role. Sudan: The African country has put four fighter jets at the disposal of Saudi Arabia, the Sudanese information minister, Ahmed Bilal Osman, has said. Sudan also offered to dispatch 6,000 soldiers for ground operations for the coalition as well, Osman said. The Sudanese government has not disclosed whether it has carried out strikes. Egypt: Egypt is believed to be offering aircraft and naval vessels for the operation, though officials have not given a breakdown of their contribution, or said whether they have launched strikes.
Pakistan’s defence minister, left, and the chief of the country’s religious hardline party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam talk at Parliament House in Islamabad. Photograph: AFP/Getty
Who has contributed material to support the coalition?
United States: The US has conducted aerial refuelling of Emirati F-16s and Saudi F-15s taking part in the bombing campaign, as well as offering logistical and intelligence support. It has not taken part in air strikes.
Who has offered unspecified support to the coalition?
Jordan:A Jordanian official has told the Associated Press that the country is participating in the coalition, but declined to say if that included air strikes. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to discuss the issue with journalists.
Who has declared itself neutral?
Pakistan:After days of discussion, Pakistan’s parliament has voted to declare the country neutral in the Yemen conflict, calling on the warring parties to resolve the situation peacefully through negotiations. It had previously voiced support for the Saudi-led coalition.
Who has voiced support for the coalition?
Somalia:The country has voiced support for the coalition’s mission, Somali media has reported.
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