Coalition Forces Spokesman lauds the decision of some Yemeni army commanders
to give up supporting the Houthis and re-join the army ranks
http://www.spa.gov.sa/English/print.php?id=1349844

Riyadh, Jumada II 25, 1436, Apr 14, 2015, SPA -- Brig. Gen. Ahmed bin Hasan
Asiri, Consultant at the Minister of Defense's Office and Spokesman of the
Coalition Forces, lauded the steps taken by a number of brigade commanders
of the Yemeni army to re-join the army ranks, citing the armored brigade
315, brigade 111, brigade border guard 11 who, finally, perceived
responsibility towards Yemen and its people, reiterating his call for the
rest of the brigades and units to follow suit and come back the way they
have come from.

In his daily press briefing held today at Riyadh Airbase, Asiri said that
the relief works continue to proceed at a good rate, noting that the coming
24 hours would witness tangible relief measures on the ground to benefit
Yemeni citizens.
Asiri said the coalition forces operation is going on as scheduled, focusing
on preventing the Houthi militias from regrouping and reorganizing
themselves or taking advantage of the military capabilities available at the
military camps.
He pointed out that the coalition forces today, several times, targeted
Al-Majd brigade, Al-Mass camp in Maareb, and the vocational institute in
Al-Baidha.

Brig. Asiri said that the coalition forces targeted Al-Sawdawia camp in
Al-baidha'a, and Al-fardha camp in Sanaa, referring to the continued
bombardment by the coalition forces of the areas of Matarah, Kattaf and
Saada last night, because the Houthis militias are trying to regroup there.

He reported that the situation in Aden has not changed as the Houthi
militias are still tampering within the neighborhoods of Aden and in Kaiter,
Mualla and on the coastal road. He expected the decline of these operations
when the militias become isolated from supply, especially with the slow
movements of the militias between cities, indicating that these militias are
now taking defensive positions in a desire to survive and escape with what
equipment they have for fear of their destruction by the coalition forces.

With respect to land operations, Asiri pointed out that there is constant
pressure around the clock in Saada and northern Yemeni border, indicating
that the surveillance devices of the border guards spotted movements and
gatherings of the militias near the Saudi border in an attempt to
re-organize there, and the artillery of the border guards targeted yesterday
more than one site in the sector of Jizan and Najran and destroyed them and
work continues to prevent these militias from achieving any kind of media
victory that they seek.

At the level of naval operations, Brig Asiri said that the naval assets of
the coalition forces are still imposing a naval ban on the Yemeni ports and
are carrying out their role in inspection of ships heading to and leaving
Yemeni port to ensure that they are free of weapons and supplies smuggling
operations.

Then, Brigadier Ahmed Asiri answered reporters' questions, noting that the
command of the coalition believes that the Security Council's decision to
approve the Gulf draft resolution is a victory for the Yemeni people and in
their interests.

He stated that diplomatic and military actions are the ones that make
security and peace. He added that therefore, this decision reflects the
international community's realization of the seriousness of the situation in
Yemen, pointing out that the international community believes that it is its
responsibilities to protect Yemeni citizens in parallel with what the
coalition operations are doing, and stressing that the air strikes by the
coalition forces have achieved most of their objectives which were designed
in the beginning.

Brigadier Asiri said that Determination Storm has specific targets dealing
with a military position and not with individuals as individuals are part of
the whole, and noting that the Security Council added the son of the deposed
president to the individuals who will be subject to penalties in addition to
his father and that there is a Security Council previous decision about him.
He added that therefore, the international community is aware of the
seriousness of these people to the Yemeni society, stressing that whoever
hurts the Yemeni citizens and security and stability in Yemen and prevents
the government from exercising its legitimate right to run the country is
considered among the enemies of society and the Yemeni people and
Determination Storm will get them.

The Coalition spokesman reported that the Yemeni government had officially
asked a few days ago from the international community and from the countries
participating in 'Determination Storm' to enforce a sea embargo on all
territorial waters and ports of Yemen, so that the coalition forces have the
right to visit and search at any time hoping that everyone will comply with
this procedure to help the Yemeni government to enforce law and order over
its territorial waters and ports to protect the Yemeni people.

Brigadier Asiri confirmed the participation of Malaysia in the Operation
Determination Storm from the beginning because it is a state supportive of
the security and stability of Yemen and realizes its responsibility towards
the Yemeni citizens and it is in direct coordination with the coalition
countries so that Yemen can go back to its previous status of stability and
security.

--SPA
23:06 LOCAL TIME 20:06 GMT