Saudi Ministry of Defense Briefing: Operation Decisive Storm - April 14

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a summary of the daily press briefing held today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the developments of Operation Decisive Storm. The briefing was conducted by Brig. Gen. Ahmed bin Hasan Asiri, advisor in the Office of the Minister of Defense.

• A number of Yemeni brigade commanders have decided to re-join the Yemeni forces; including the entire 314^th Armored Brigade, the 111^th Brigade and the 11^th Border Brigade. The coalition calls on the remaining brigades and units to follow suit, and protect the Yemeni people.
• The coalition forces are preventing Houthi militias from regrouping at military camps. The coalition today targeted these camps, including the Al-Majd Brigade and the Al-Mass Camp in Maareb, the Vocational Institute in Al-Baidha, where the Houthi militias are currently hiding and attempting to escape with their military equipment, the Al-Sawdawia Camp in Al-Baidha, and the Al-Fardha Camp in Sana'a. The coalition also continued to target the areas of Matarah, Kattaf and Saada.
• The situation in Aden has not changed in the past 24 hours. The Houthi militias are still fighting in isolated pockets of the city. Because the coalition was able to prevent movements between cities, the militias are now taking defensive positions in an attempt to survive and escape.
• Saudi Border Guards spotted Houthi militias attempting to reorganize near the border. The Saudi Land Forces launched artillery attacks against the Houthi militias along the Jizan and Najran Sectors, preventing them from moving closer to the border.
• Coalition naval forces continue to impose a naval blockade around Yemen, inspecting all ships arriving and leaving the ports to prevent the Houthi militias from smuggling weapons and supplies. Yemeni government officials requested that the coalition enforce a maritime blockade on all territorial waters and ports of Yemen.
• The coalition is continuing to facilitate relief efforts in Yemen. Relief work is progressing at a good pace and should improve in the next 24 hours. The objective is to improve the living conditions of the Yemeni people.
• UN Security Council 2216 (2015) which imposes an arms embargo against the Houthis and their allies is a victory for the Yemeni people. The decision reflects the international community's responsibility to protect the Yemeni people.

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office