Yemen front and the region
UK deploys Typhoon jets on defensive missions over Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks
London announced it will deploy Typhoon fighters to counter Houthi missiles and drones over Saudi Arabia, without striking targets inside Yemen. Meanwhile, the UN said displacement has passed 250,000, and shelling of Taiz neighbourhoods continued.
Summary
- ConfirmedBritain deploys Typhoons on defensive missions over Saudi Arabia and extends its air-refuelling mission by 90 days.
- ConfirmedUN: more than 250,000 displaced since the escalation, about 120,000 of them to Taiz.
- AttributedGovernment office in Taiz: 3 civilians killed and 8 wounded by Houthi shelling and gunfire.
- ConfirmedSaudi cabinet welcomes a UN Security Council statement calling for cutting off arms to the Houthis.
- AttributedTurkey refers the Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to parliament.
people displaced in Yemen since fighting resumed, as of October 17
UNHCR via dpa/blue News 14:27Zdisplaced people who fled to Taiz since September
UNICEF via blue News 14:27Zdays added to the UK air-refuelling mission for Saudi aircraft
AP via Military.com 14:03Zcivilians killed in Taiz, according to a government office
Yemen Monitor 13:51ZDevelopments in this window
- ConfirmedSaudi Arabia
UK deploys Typhoon jets to protect Saudi Arabia from Houthi missiles and drones
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said Typhoons will conduct defensive counter-air operations over Saudi Arabia to protect cities and infrastructure. He stressed they will not carry out offensive strikes on the Houthis. London will also send a military transport aircraft and advisers, and extend its air-refuelling mission by 90 days.
- AttributedDiplomacy
Tom Barrack: military operations will not end the conflict with the Houthis
US envoy Tom Barrack told a forum in Doha that a solution in Yemen requires negotiations. He said Washington is ready to support Saudi Arabia logistically but ruled out US ground involvement. He floated resuming Saudi-Houthi talks under Omani mediation.
Source: belqees.net - AttributedTaiz
Taiz: 3 civilians killed, 8 wounded by Houthi shelling and gunfire, government office says
Taiz's government Siege Affairs Office reported a young woman killed and 7 wounded by shelling of city neighbourhoods, in a preliminary count. It said an elderly man was killed by a shell in the village of al-Shaqab and a young woman by gunfire in Sabir. The Houthis have not commented on this account.
Source: Yemen Monitor - ConfirmedSaudi Arabia
Saudi cabinet welcomes UN Security Council statement against Houthi attacks
The cabinet, chaired by King Salman, welcomed a Security Council presidential statement calling for international cooperation to cut off weapons and support to the Houthis. The statement condemns attacks on airports and energy facilities and threats to shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, and stresses implementation of Resolution 2216.
Source: Saudi Gazette - AttributedTurkey
Turkey refers Mecca defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to parliament
Three parliamentary sources said Ankara has submitted the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement to parliament for ratification. The pact treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. The foreign affairs committee could debate it on Friday; its details have not yet been published.
Source: Middle East Online - AttributedSaada / border
Pro-Houthi sources: 6 Saudi and Pakistani soldiers killed in border raid
A pro-Houthi website cited military sources saying a unit infiltrated behind Saudi lines opposite Munabbih in Saada. It said the unit hit two border guard vehicles, killing 4 Saudis and 2 Pakistanis. There is no Saudi or independent confirmation.
Source: yemnews.net - ConfirmedYemen
UN: more than 250,000 displaced since fighting resumed
The UN refugee agency said the number of displaced passed 250,000 as of October 17, up from about 213,000 ten days earlier. UNICEF said about 120,000 of them fled to Taiz. The UN describes access to Taiz as essentially blocked.
Source: APP blue News / dpa