Saudi Arabia has launched airstrikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen, an air campaign the Saudi ambassador said would be limited in scope and is being conducted “to protect the legitimate government of Yemen.”
Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir says the air campaign began at 7 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday . The development seemed to bolster fears that the oil-rich nation might be drawn into the conflict.
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“The use of force is always the last resort,” al-Jubeir told reporters in Washington, D.C., Wednesday. Al-Jubeir said nine other countries have joined a coalition to prevent the Houthis from taking over Yemen, but did not name them. He said the U.S. is not participating in military operations.
“We will do whatever it takes in order to protect the legitimate government of Yemen from falling and from facing any dangers from an outside militia,” al-Jubeir said. “We have a situation where you have a militia group that is now in control.”
Two American officials told NBC News Saudi airstrikes were conducted near Sana’a Wednesday.
The Houthis said in a statement to reporters that Saudi jets are hitting a military base, known as al-Duleimi, in Sana’a. They said they fired anti-aircraft missiles in response.








