International reactions to the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen (2015–present)
International reactions to the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen of 2015 were mixed. Most other Arab League nations and several Western governments backed the Saudi Arabia-led military coalition, but other governments warned against an escalation in the violent situation in Yemen.
Main article: Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen
– Delegates to the Arab League voted to study the formation of a joint military force on 29 March 2015, days after the intervention in Yemen began. Secretary-General Naril Elaraby affirmed that the intervention would "continue until Houthi militias withdraw and submit their weapons" and asserted that the international operation was necessary.[1]
Arab League
– The European Union criticized the military intervention. It suggested that military intervention would not solve the crisis and expressed concern about the "serious regional repercussions" after the Saudi military intervention in Yemen, describing that this move is not a solution, and urging regional powers to "act responsibly". The European Union reiterates its support for all efforts by the United Nations.[2][3]
European Union
(OIC) – Iyad Ameen Madani, secretary-general of the OIC, criticised the Houthis and said military action was made inevitable by their actions. He said he hoped the intervention would restore stability to Yemen.[4]
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
[5]
Evacuations and other actions[edit]
The Royal Saudi Navy evacuated diplomats and United Nations staff from Aden to Jeddah on 28 March 2015.[114]
Pakistan dispatched two special PIA flights to evacuate some 500 stranded Pakistanis on 29 March 2015.[115] Several UN staff members and Arab diplomats were also evacuated following the airstrikes.[116]
The Indian government responded by deploying ships and planes to Yemen to evacuate stranded Indians. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj stated that since all the airports in Yemen were closed, they planned to bring people to the neighbouring country of Djibouti by ship, and from there to India by aircraft.[117] India began evacuating hundreds of its citizens on 2 April 2015, via a commercial liner docked in Aden port.[118] An air evacuation of Indian nationals from Sana'a to Djibouti was carried out on 3 April 2015, after the Indian government obtained permission to land two Airbus A320s at the airport.[119] The Indian Armed Forces, in a rescue operation codenamed Operation Raahat, evacuated more than 4640 Indian nationals along with 960 foreign nationals from 41 countries. The operation ended on 11 April 2015.[120][121][122][123][124][125]
A Chinese missile frigate docked in Aden on 29 March 2015 to evacuate Chinese nationals from Yemen.[126] The ship reportedly deployed soldiers ashore on 2 April 2015 to guard the evacuation of civilians from the city.[127] The Chinese frigate evacuated 225 foreign citizens from 10 different countries in what Reuters described as "the first time that China's military has helped other countries evacuate their people during an international crisis". China also evacuated 571 of its own nationals and eight foreigners who worked for Chinese companies in Yemen.[128]
The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said it would airlift its citizens out of Yemen if they requested to be evacuated.[129] There were reportedly more than 50,000 Ethiopian nationals living and working in Yemen at the outbreak of hostilities.[19]
Malaysia also planned to evacuate its 879 citizens from Yemen, according to its Foreign Minister, Anifah Aman, but it was unclear whether they would be moved out by air or land.[130]