WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has authorised the provision of logistical and intelligence support to the Saudi-led military operation in Yemen, said the White House amid reports that the coalition relied heavily on US surveillance and targeting information.

“President Obama has authorised the provision of logistical and intelligence support to this military operation,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz told a news briefing in Washington.

He noted that the military action aimed at defending Saudi Arabia’s border and protecting Yemen’s legitimate government, which requested the attack.

“While the US are not taking direct military action in Yemen in support of this effort, we are establishing a joint planning cell with Saudi Arabia to coordinate US military and intelligence support,” he said. Asked if the US would consider taking direct military action if the situation did not improve, Mr Schultz said: “I don’t have any future actions to rule in or rule out.”

When another journalist asked if the United States had done any coordination with the Saudis ahead of the strikes, the White House official said: “We do consult closely with our Saudi and other GCC partners on the situation in Yemen and share their serious concerns regarding the Houthis’ ongoing military actions.”

He said he was not in a position to read out specific conversations, but confirmed that “our relevant agencies are in touch with our counterparts abroad”.

Mr Schultz disagreed with a suggestion that supporting the Saudi offensive could have a negative impact on talks with Iran over the nuclear deal.

“We believe the international community is united behind the goal of making sure Iran does not have a pathway to a nuclear weapon. Those conversations are ongoing in earnest as we approach the deadline,” he said.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that the Saudis “relied heavily on US surveillance images and targeting information” to carry out the offensive.

The Post reported that the Saudis withheld a final decision until it became clear late Wednesday that Houthi rebels were poised to take over Aden, the country’s main southern port.

The capture of Aden, the Saudis believed, would eliminate any chance for an early end to the fracturing of Yemen. Retaining control of the city was seen as crucial to reinstalling the government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who secretly left Aden on Wednesday, the report added.

The Post said that Saudi and US officials were not ruling out the use of ground troops to help protect President Hadi and his government, assuming he could return to Aden.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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