Yemen chaos takes another sharp turn with Saudi airstrikes

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The chaos in Yemen has taken another dramatic turn, as neighboring Saudi Arabia entered the fight against rebels in that country with airstrikes.

The operation began overnight, as Saudi jets flew from the Sunni kingdom's southern desert and bombarded military targets in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa, the goal, drive out Shiite Houthi rebels who've taken over much of the country.

The Saudi ambassador to the U.S. announced the campaign last night in Washington.

ADEL AL-JUBEIR, Ambassador, Saudi Arabia:

We will do whatever it takes in order to protect the legitimate government of Yemen from falling and from facing any dangers from an outside militia.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The strikes flattened a number of homes, killing at least 18 civilians. Residents were left searching through piles of rubble for survivors.

Jonathan Bartolozzi of Mercy Corps is in Sanaa, and spoke with the NewsHour via Skype.

JONATHAN BARTOLOZZI, Mercy Corps:

People were woken up by explosions. When people found out that it was actually a foreign military intervention, people were quite shocked. We had a situation where targets — the military targets that they were aiming for are specific. So, the actual city center did not see a lot, or actually any at all.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Thousands of Houthi supporters took to the streets of Sanaa, protesting the Saudi airstrikes. But at a separate rally in the southern city of Taiz,, scores of Yemenis cheered the action.

The Saudis are joined in the effort by other Persian Gulf nations, as well as Sudan, Jordan, and Egypt. Those nations back Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who's been in the port city of Aden since fleeing Sanaa last month. Today, Hadi left the country under Saudi protection and arrived in Riyadh.

SAMEH SHUKRI, Foreign Minister, Egypt (through interpreter):

It was an obligation to answer the call of President Hadi. Egypt has announced its political and military support to Yemen and also to join the coalition through air, naval forces and land if the matter calls for it.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The head of the Arab League added his backing.

NABIL AL-ARABY, Secretary General, Arab League (through interpreter):

It took place after the failure of all trials to stop the Houthi coup d'etat, after their persistence to take escalated steps against the constitutional legitimacy and the national Yemeni will.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

Meanwhile, the Houthis' key supporter, Iran, denounced the strikes. Yemen became the latest flash point in a long-simmering conflict between Tehran and Riyadh for regional dominance.

Iran’s foreign minister:

MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF, Iranian Foreign Minister (through interpreter):

Military action, especially military action from outside Yemen against territorial integrity and against the Yemeni people, will have no result but bloodshed and slaughter of the people.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The U.S. authorized logistical and intelligence help for the campaign, but, at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the top general overseeing U.S. operations in the Middle East had few answers.

GEN. LLOYD AUSTIN, Commander, U.S. Central Command:

I don't currently know the specific goals and objectives of the Saudi campaign, and I would have to know that to be able to assess the likelihood of success.

JUDY WOODRUFF:

The chair of the committee, Arizona Republican John McCain, said the airstrikes stemmed from a — quote — "total absence of U.S. leadership."