Egypt extends participation in Yemen liberation operation

Egypt extends participation in Yemen liberation operation

January 24, 2017
UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed (C) gets into his car upon his arrival at Sanaa international airport on Sunday. — AFP
UN special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed (C) gets into his car upon his arrival at Sanaa international airport on Sunday. — AFP

CAIRO — Egypt’s National Defense Council on Sunday extended the military’s participation in a Saudi-led operation in Yemen, the presidency said in a statement. It did not specify how long the extension would be for.

“The National Defense Council agreed during the meeting to extend the participation of the required elements from the Egyptian armed forces in a combat operation outside the nation’s border to defend Egyptian and Arab national security in the Gulf, Red Sea, and Bab Al-Mandab areas,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), discussed at his office in Riyadh with UN assistant for coordinating humanitarian affairs in the middle east and Minor Asia Rasheed Klekov the humanitarian situation in Yemen and ways to intensify the regional and international efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to cities, provinces and villages.

They also discussed the mechanisms guaranteeing a joint cooperation and coordination between the GCC and UN as regards the provision of
humanitarian assistance to refugees all over the world.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Abdulaziz Hamad Al-Owaisheq, Assistant GCC secretary general for political affairs.

Assisted by popular armed resistance in fighting the Houthi militias and forces loyal to deposed president Ali Abdullah Saleh on several fronts, Yemeni armed forces have tightened control on three strategic sites in Hamk front of Al-Dhalea province in the south of the country.

In a statement released by the information center of the Yemeni armed forces, a military source said that units from the army managed to liberate Al-Makasarah, Tabat Al-Halemi, and Al-Tabba Al-Taweelah in the sector of Yebar in Hamk front.

Eight militia men were killed and others injured in the fierce battles while two government soldiers were killed in action and three injured.


January 24, 2017
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