Sudanese ground troops arrive in Yemen

Hundreds of Sudanese troops arrived in Aden, Yemen's southern port city, on Saturday, to enforce the Saudi-led military campaign against the Houthi rebels.

“The vanguards of our ground troops have arrived in Aden to participate with the forces of the Arab alliance in the Decisive Storm operation,” Sudanese army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Khalifa El Shami, told reporters on Sunday.

“The participation of the Sudanese ground troops in the Saudi-led operation comes as part of the political commitment to the conventions and decisions of the Arab League to restore the legitimacy in Yemen,” he noted.

He further explained that the vanguards represent a fully-equipped battalion, without specifying their number. However, media reports on Saturday said that around 300 Sudanese soldiers and officers arrived in Aden. Sudan Vision Daily reported the number of 700 army troops.

Aden became the seat of the Yemeni government earlier this year after the Shiite Houthis, based in northern Yemen, seized the capital Sanaa, and forced President Abdelrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to the south.

The security situation in Aden remains a concern as residents report that armed men, including Islamist militants linked to Al Qaeda, roam the streets.

Late March, Sudan joined the Arab military operation led by Saudi Arabia on the Houthi rebels.

The Sudanese Foreign Affairs Minister said at the time that the decision to participate was based on “the historical close ties” between Sudan and Saudi Arabia, and “the danger that threatens all of the region and Saudi Arabia specifically”.

Eight other countries, including Bahrain, Qatar, and Egypt, joined the Saudi offensive that started with air raids targeting Houthi strongholds in Sanaa on 26 March.

(Sources: Reuters, Shanghai Daily, Sudan Vision Daily)