Coalition will respond to Huthi attacks

Spokesman of the coalition forces Brigader General Ahmed Hasan Asiri, who is also Advisor at the Office of the Minister of Defence, said that it is natural to inform local and world public opinion and the Yemeni public opinion of what is taking place, now, through Operation Renewal of Hope and the latest developments along the Saudi-Yemeni borders.

In a press conference held here at Riyadh Airbase, Asiri pointed out that it is well known to all that the Huthi militias have attacked, during the last few days, the Saudi cities, Jazan and Najran, for targeting Saudi citizens, asserting that due to change of situation on the ground and nature of threat, the response will be different, now, because the Kingdom is in a self-defense position to defend its people, cities and the security and safety on its border.

Saudi news agency SPA reported today that Asiri drew the attention that the Saudi Armed Forces, with participation of the Coalition Forces, have carried out double tasks, during the last 24 hours, in response to the threat that targeted the Saudi cities, reiterating, at the same time, that the operations are ongoing to achieve the set objectives of Operation Renewal of Hope.

The Spokesman of the Coalition Forces said that the Operation Renewal of Hope has three main goals, including prevention of Huthi movements in Yemen, protection of the security and safety of the Yemeni citizen and facilitation of the relief and humanitarian works in Yemen, stressing a negative response of the Huthi militias in spite of all initiatives announced during the past few days, "due to the escalation of targeting the Saudi cities, we have a new goal through operations which is protecting the Saudi cities and ensuring the safety and security of the Kingdom in addition to the security and safety of the Yemeni citizen and safety of the Yemeni cities against the Huthi practices," he added.

Asiri pointed out that the operations carried out yesterday by the coalition forces were in parallel with the changing approach of the operations, therefore, the response was different.

He added that the coalition was acting in parallel through the Coalition Command and through the Saudi Armed Forces to achieve the main objective which is to protect the Saudi and the Yemeni citizens. Asiri noted that the Saudi Armed Forces and the Coalition Forces carried out Thursday operations targeting sites used to launch operations against the Saudi citizen in the Saudi cities. He stressed however that the Coalition Command and the Saudi Armed Forces have not abandoned their role in Operation Renewal of Hope.

Brig. Asiri said that the Huthi militias are trying to abort the humanitarian relief works carried out by the Coalition Forces and the international community through expanding operations on the Kingdom's borders, confirming that there will be enough and sufficient response for this type of acts.

"The Coalition Forces carried out operations in the districts of Aden, Khor Maksar and Mualla districts, against the Huthi militias that continue the works of hit-and-run inside the city in order to horrify citizens and prevent the People's Committees to play their roles in protecting the Yemeni citizens," Asiri said, stressing that operations targeted yesterday all Huthi command's centers and sites, vehicles gatherings and military equipment in Saada and Maran.

Asiri appealed to the Yemeni citizens who are in Saada and Maran to stay away from these sites, pointing out that deadline of evacuation of these sites and regions will finish at 7:00 p.m. in this evening, "At this moment, the Coalition Forces and the Saudi Armed Forces will start implementation of the appropriate response to these militias and their leaders who have targeted the security and safety of the Saudi citizen," he added.
Source: QNA