Warplanes continue to pound Houthi targets

US remains concerned about convoy of Iranian ships that may be carrying weapons to rebels

Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition struck Houthi targets in and around the Yemeni cities of Aden and Ibb early on Thursday, residents said.

On Tuesday, the coalition announced an end to its month-old bombing campaign in Yemen, but strikes have continued. A Saudi spokesman later said forces would continue to target the Iranian-allied Houthi movement as necessary.

Thursday's targets included tanks being used by the rebels in villages near Aden, a port in the south, the residents said.

In Ibb in central Yemen, residents reported an intense series of strikes early on Thursday on Houthi positions and weapon warehouses.

They said targets included a military base in the town of al-Kafr, unspecified sites in Hubaysh, a college on the outskirts of Ibb and another in the city of Yarim.

In Aden late on Wednesday, five Houthi militiamen were killed at a checkpoint while fighting local forces.

The Shiite Houthis and their army allies loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh are battling fighters loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is moving into the waters off Yemen, joining eight other US warships, including some carrying teams capable of boarding and searching other vessels.

On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he is concerned that Iranian cargo ships heading toward Yemen may be carrying advanced weapons for the Houthis, and moving the carrier to the region gives the president options. Delivering such arms to the rebels would be in violation of a UN resolution.

Carter told reporters that he is not prepared to say whether the US would be willing to forcibly stop and board one of the vessels if it tries to cross into Yemeni waters.

He said the US is making it clear to Iran that "obviously fanning the flames or contributing to it by any party is not welcome to us".

On Thursday, the prime minister of Saudi Arabia's longstanding ally Pakistan arrived in the kingdom for talks after his parliament refused to send forces to help a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

Nawaz Sharif is traveling with a powerful delegation including army chief Raheel Sharif and defense minister Khawaja Asif.

Pakistan's parliament earlier this month unanimously voted against complying with Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia's request for troops, warplanes and ships. It said Pakistan should instead play a mediating role.

Reuters - AFP - AP

(China Daily 04/24/2015 page11)