UNITED NATIONS, May 7. /TASS/. Yemen’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Khalid al-Yamani on Wednesday asked the United Nations Security Council to sanction a land operation against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
In a letter referred to the U.S. Security Council he urged the international community to conduct a land operation to save his country. He also asked international human rights activists to fix barbarous violations against civilian population committed by Houthi rebels, who are, according to the Yemeni diplomat, are responsible for killings of civilians and hampering deliveries of humanitarian aid. Earlier, Yemeni Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin came out with a call to immediately interfere into the situation in Yemen.
Lithuania, which is presiding in the United Nations Security Council in May, confirmed the receipt of the appeal on behalf of the Yemeni government. The Lithuanian permanent mission's press attache, Ruta Jazukeviciute, told TASS the Security Council had received such letter and would consider it.
According to Wednesday reports, Yemeni army units supporting the Houthis established control over Aden’s al-Tawahi administrative district.
Since August 2014, Yemen has been suffering from a severe political and security crisis. In late January 2015, the armed groups of Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels) seized the country’s capital city of Sana’a and forced President Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi and the government to announce resignation. The president tried to hide in the port city of Aden but after the Houthi seized this city on March 25 he had to flee the country. Now he is staying in Saudi Arabia.
After Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi called for help from the Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia’s air force supported by aviation of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates launched an operation Decisive Storm against the Houthis on March 26. Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan and Sudan joined the Saudi-led coalition.
On April 14, the UN Security Council has adopted resolution 2216 that stipulates arms and military equipment embargo to Houthi rebels. The draft document was proposed by Jordan, the United States and Britain. Fourteen U.N. Security Council member countries supported the resolution, including China and Venezuela, while Russia abstained from voting.
At the end of April, the Saudi-led coalition announced the end of a military operation "Storm of Resolve" in Yemen. Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri said "the alliance had achieved its military goals in Yemen through the campaign dubbed ‘Storm of Resolve’ and will now begin a new operation called ‘Restoring Hope’." "The mission will focus on security at home and counter-terrorism, aid and a political solution in Yemen," he added.