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Saudi Arabia ceases bombing of Yemen, begins new security operation

Saudi Arabia's state news reported Operation Decisive Storm had achieved its military aims.

By Fred Lambert
Militants loyal to Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi take positions next to his supporters in Taiz, Yemen, on March 30. Nearly a month later, on April 21, Saudi Arabia's state news agency announced a halt to a coalition bombing campaign in the country. Photo by Anees Mahyoub/UPI
1 of 3 | Militants loyal to Yemen's President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi take positions next to his supporters in Taiz, Yemen, on March 30. Nearly a month later, on April 21, Saudi Arabia's state news agency announced a halt to a coalition bombing campaign in the country. Photo by Anees Mahyoub/UPI | License Photo

SANAA, Yemen, April 21 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia will halt its bombing campaign in Yemen after nearly a month of airstrikes against advancing Houthi rebels, according to Saudi Arabia's state news agency.

The bombing campaign, known as "Decisive Storm," began in late March when Shia Houthi rebels took Yemen's capital of Aden, forcing President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi to hole up in the coastal city of Sanaa before eventually fleeing for Saudi Arabia.

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A new operation, called "Restore Hope" -- which will focus on a political solution in Yemen and on counterterrorism security in Saudi Arabia -- will replace Decisive Storm, Saudi state news reported.

Called "Determination Storm" by Saudi state news, the operation also included military forces from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Jordan and Sudan.

On Monday, U.S. Navy officials said the USS Theodore Roosevelt was deployed to the area amid growing instability.

Airstrikes in the operation have resulted in hundreds of deaths, according to United Nations estimates, including 25 who were killed and 300 wounded in Sanaa on Monday after an airstrike hit a Scud missile base.

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Another 30 people, including several civilians, were killed in airstrikes on Tuesday, the BBC reports.

Saudi Arabia's ministry of defense released a statement saying the bombing campaign had "successfully managed to thwart the threat on the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries through destruction of the heavy weapons and ballistic missiles seized by the Houthi militias," but according to the BBC, the airstrikes largely failed to halt rebel advances.

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