00:42Yemen: UN evacuates staff as Saudi Air Force pounds Sanaa
The United Nations attempted to evacuate 100 members of its staff from Sanaa on Saturday due to the deteriorating security situation in the capital. Saudi-led coalition air strikes have continued to target Houthi militant positions in and around the city. The Yemeni Interior Ministry says 24 people were killed and 43 injured over the last 24 hours.
The UN staff were seen at Sanaa International Airport, reportedly waiting for approval from Saudi Arabia to leave the country, to ensure their airplane would not be targeted by Saudi-led air strikes. U.N. Special envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar was expected to participate, along with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at the Arab League summit in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday. The security situation in Yemen was expected to top the agenda.
Saudi Arabia has pledged air-support for forces loyal to embattled President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who left Yemen earlier this week to attend the Arab League summit.
Riyadh's declaration of support for Hadi was followed by a joint statement from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to join the Saudi-led coalition. US President Barack Obama expressed support for the military operation in a phone call to Saudi King Salman on Friday. That same day the US military rescued two Saudi pilots who ejected from their F-15 fighter jet over the Gulf of Aden.
00:42The United Nations attempted to evacuate 100 members of its staff from Sanaa on Saturday due to the deteriorating security situation in the capital. Saudi-led coalition air strikes have continued to target Houthi militant positions in and around the city. The Yemeni Interior Ministry says 24 people were killed and 43 injured over the last 24 hours.
The UN staff were seen at Sanaa International Airport, reportedly waiting for approval from Saudi Arabia to leave the country, to ensure their airplane would not be targeted by Saudi-led air strikes. U.N. Special envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar was expected to participate, along with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at the Arab League summit in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday. The security situation in Yemen was expected to top the agenda.
Saudi Arabia has pledged air-support for forces loyal to embattled President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who left Yemen earlier this week to attend the Arab League summit.
Riyadh's declaration of support for Hadi was followed by a joint statement from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to join the Saudi-led coalition. US President Barack Obama expressed support for the military operation in a phone call to Saudi King Salman on Friday. That same day the US military rescued two Saudi pilots who ejected from their F-15 fighter jet over the Gulf of Aden.