The military forces of Saudi Arabia today launched a large scale military operation in northern Yemen, to quell a the rising rebellion from the Shiites in the region, who have been creating a lot of trouble for the Yemeni government. The assault force includes infantry battalions, artillery shelling along with close air support from Saudi air force.

The Hawthis, a largely Shiite population have been at war with Yemeni security forces for the last couple of months. The unrest in the region has spanned over five years and the latest conflict between the Hawthis and the security forces has forced Saudi Arabia to come to the aid of its neighbor. According to Mohammed Abdel-Salam (Hawathi Spokesman),

“Saudi jets dropped bombs on a crowded areas including local market in the northern province of Saada. They (Saudis) claim they are targeting al-Hawthis, but regrettably they are killing civilians like the government does. The attacks were followed by hundreds of shells from the border.”

As per inside reports from Saudi Arabia, the Saudi air force has been pummeling the Hawathi targets since yesterday and F-15 and Tornado fighter planes have been conducting continuous sorties, dealing significant damage to the rebel base. Along with the aerial assault, army contingents, along with Saudi special forces have also been deployed in Yemen, with the border towns being evacuated, expecting an escalated conflict.

Yemen itself is tangled on multiple fronts on the war on terror campaign with its military fighting off the Hawthis rebels in the north and another militant outfit in the south of the country. However, the biggest threat to the already unstable Yemen, is the Al-Qaeda fighters, that are believed to be operating in the border areas. Today’s attack is said to be in retaliation for the Hawathi incursion into Saudi Arabia yesterday, where the rebels killed one Saudi soldier and injured 11 others.

Via Associated Press.