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Saudi Arabia confirmed Saturday that Sudanese troops had arrived in Yemen to join the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting Houthi rebels in a bid to restore former Yemeni president Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to power.
"The Sudanese force are added value to the coalition forces on the ground," Saudi Defense Minister adviser Brigadier General Ahmad Assiri told the United Arab Emirates-based Sky News Arabia TV.
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Images of the Sudani forces that arrived to Aden - #Yemen pic.twitter.com/oNibOfEMJU
— محمد بن خالد (@saikhamk)
October 17, 201
The TV station showed images of what appeared to be Sudanese troops in Aden harbor and quoted its correspondent there as saying they also had armored vehicles shipped with them. The commander of the Fourth Military Region in the Hadi-allied Yemeni forces, Major General Ahmed Saif Muharrami, along with other army officers were seen greeting the Sudanese forces upon their arrival.
RELATED: Why Saudi Arabia is Bombing Yemen
Saudi Arabia began a military intervention against the Houthis and their allies in Yemen's army on March 26 to restore the Yemeni government ousted by the group, which is allied with the country’s former leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Saudis, the United States and their allies say the rebel Shiite group is supported by Iran.
Since the Saudi-led intervention began over 2,350 civilians have died, according to the United Nations.
Sudan troops in Aden : A sign of victory for Saudi Arabia, or a blatant admission of defeat for Riyadh in southern Yemen?
— Abu Hud Al Hadhrami (@BaFana3)
October 17, 201
Human rights organizations accused the Saudi coalition of having possibly committed war crimes. Airstrikes on October 7 reportedly killed at least 23 people at a wedding party in Yemen, an attack that came a little over a week after another suspected Saudi-led strike killed more than 131 civilians at another wedding.
The ground forces currently in Yemen consistly mainly of Saudi, Bahraini and United Arab Emirates soldiers. Egypt and Pakistan, two of Saudi Arabia's closest allies, have thus far declined to send troops to Yemen but otherwise support the operation against the rebels. The United States also supports the Saudi coalition and provides intelligence and logistical support.
According to the Sudan Tribune website, late last year Sudanese authorities ordered the closure of the Iranian Cultural Center in the capital of Khartoum and asked the Iranian cultural attache to leave the country. The moves were seen as a gesture of goodwill towards the Arab Gulf states.
RELATED: Yemen in the Crosshairs
