Saudi Ministry of Defense Briefing: Operation Decisive Storm -- April 9

WASHINGTON, April 9, 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.

• The coalition forces' pace of action in Aden varies day-to-day. Isolated groups of Houthi militias are relocating around Aden due to the airstrikes. Some militias moved from Dalea to Shabwa, and other small, isolated groups are in Ataq.
• The coalition air forces today targeted pro-Houthi military brigades, including the 19^th, 22^nd, 21^st and 33^rd brigades in Bijan, Taiz and Shabwa.
• Coalition airstrikes destroyed communication between Sana'a and the northern regions of Yemen, including Saada and caves used as weapons storage.
• Coalition forces continue to target Houthi militia camps and weapons storage facilities throughout the country.
• The movement and communication of the militias has been significantly crippled since the start of Operation Decisive Storm.
• Some Houthi militia groups, with the help of local tribal communities, are storing weapons and military equipment in heavily populated civilian areas and take refuge in private homes to avoid coalition air strikes. The Houthis are trying to garner media support by making it appear the coalition is targeting civilians, while in fact the coalition does not target civilians, but Houthi fighters and weapons supplies.
• A Houthi militia group attempted to storm the city of Ibb today, as part of the same propaganda scheme as their efforts in Aden. The militias' goal is to terrorize the Yemeni people and cause chaos.
• Brig. Gen. Asiri said that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed that Iran has been arming the Houthis for over 15 years.
• The coalition, along with the international community, is interested in a safe and stable Yemen. The legitimate Yemeni government appealed for assistance from fellow Arab nations to expel the Houthis, who kidnapped the country, its people and its government.
• Houthi militias have looted private and public property, including TV stations they previously sized. The Houthi militias are in disarray. They lack command and control and act like criminal gangs and not organized fighting units.
• The Red Cross relief ship has reached the port of Aden, but remains stranded due to deteriorating security around the port. The coalition is currently coordinating with the Red Cross to facilitate the delivery of medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in Aden.

SOURCE Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Information Office

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