"In recent days, the U.S. Navy has increased its presence in this area as a result of the current instability in Yemen," said a statement issued by the U.S. navy, adding that the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its escort cruiser USS Normandy were redeployed from its station in the Arabian Gulf to the Arabian Sea on Sunday.
The statement said the aim of the redeployment was to ensure access and safety of the vital maritime lanes in the region, adding that Theodore Roosevelt and Normandy would join other U.S. forces there to conduct maritime security operations.
The redeployment came at a time when U.S. officials were keeping an eye on at least seven Iranian ships with unknown cargo heading towards Yemen in what U.S. officials believed was an effort to arm the Iranian-allied anti-government Shiite Houthi group.
"One of the concerns that we have with Iranian behavior in terms of the destabilizing impact they're having on the broader region is the fact that they continue to supply weapons and offer support to the Houthis in Yemen," acknowledged White House spokesman Josh Earnest at the daily briefing.
"We have seen evidence that the Iranians are supplying weapons and other forms of support to the Houthis in Yemen," he added.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon on Monday dismissed previous reports that the U.S. redeployemnt of naval forces was aimed at confronting Iranian vessels.
"The USS Theodore Roosevelt is repositioning to conduct maritime security operations," Pentagon spokesman Army Colonel Steve Warren told reporters. "it is not going to intercept any Iranian vessels."...
Xinhua - china.org.cn
21/4/15
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US sends carrier to Yemen waters with eye on Iran convoy...
ReplyDeleteA U.S. aircraft carrier was headed to the Arabian Sea Tuesday as Washington said it was monitoring Iranian vessels suspected of carrying weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen in violation of a U.N. embargo.
The US Navy said it was sending the USS Theodore Roosevelt and guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy "to ensure the vital shipping lanes in the region remain open and safe."
The deployment brings to nine the number of U.S. warships in the area.
The Iranian convoy is comprised of nine ships, including two patrol boats, a senior U.S. defense official told AFP, saying its exact destination was unknown......dailystar.com.lb
21/4/15
La coalition saoudienne annonce la fin de l'offensive aérienne au Yémen...
ReplyDeleteLa coalition mise en place par l'Arabie Saoudite a annoncé, mardi sur la chaîne Al Arabia, mettre fin à son offensive aérienne. Une nouvelle campagne, centrée sur la "sécurité" et le "contre-terrorisme", doit prendre la relève.
La coalition mise en place par Riyad pour endiguer la progression des miliciens chiites houthis au Yémen a annoncé, mardi 21 avril, la fin de sa campagne aérienne, dans une déclaration lue par un porte-parole de la coalition, sur la chaîne de télévision saoudienne Al Arabia.
Le général Ahmed al-Assiri a ainsi annoncé la "fin de l'opération 'Tempête décisive' à la demande du gouvernement et du président yéménites". L'intervention militaire avait été lancée le 26 mars à la demande du président Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, réfugié en Arabie saoudite. Elle visait les Houthis, accusés de liens avec l'Iran, qui a d'ailleurs salué, mardi soir, "un pas en avant" avec l'arrêt des frappes.....france24.com