Saudi warplanes pounded the airport in the Yemeni capital city of Sanaa today, rendering the airport unusable. They also targeted nearby miltiary airfields, destroying much if not all of Yemen’s former air force.
Saudi officials are couching the attacks as targeting “rebel planes” belonging to the Shi’ite Houthis who control the capital city, though in reality these planes were the Yemeni military’s.
The pretense of a Houthi Air Force has emerged only in a handful of reports, and appears simply to be a matter of some factions within the divided Yemeni military fighting alongside the Houthis and against other domestic factions.
Either way, the small air force, made up almost entirely of old Soviet-era planes, is no more, which presumably sets the stage for the US to secure another major warplane contract in the area, if and when the Saudi invasion ends.
One regional country attacks another and the response from the United Nations is, “The members of the Security Council urge all the parties in Yemen to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation and to reject acts violence to achieve political goals, to refrain from provocation,” said Chile’s UN Ambassador, Cristian Barros Melet."
What good is this global body politic if all it can do is wag its collective finger at an aggressor? The UN is an abysmal failure for world peace and should be disbanded.
The Houtis are reported to have taken a number of Mig 29 aircraft on strength – these are not considered 'old' equipment. Reports on the ground indicate that the Arab air forces might be 'going easy' on Houthi air resources (hoping to take them intact?). Revetments and shelters struck at the bases are reported to have been empty of first-line aircraft, although some older, US-supplied equipment is reported to have been damaged or destroyed.
It is thought that the modern fighters may be unserviceable, or perhaps that the pilots have deserted to the opposition.
I love how the corporate/state media couches these Houthis as if they aren't even Yemenis. The Saudi's are an invading force and violating border integrity of Yemen regardless if the rebel group has taken over the country. Funny how Saudi Arabia believes they have the right to overthrow Assad with their violent Proxies ISIS and AL NUSRA yet reinstate a dictator that the people of Yemen detest?