<span id="midArticle_start"/>WASHINGTON, April 24 (Reuters) - A flotilla of nine Iranianmilitary and cargo ships that U.S. officials feared was carryingarms to strife-torn Yemen sailed northeast in the direction ofIran on Friday, a move the Pentagon said helped to ease U.S.concerns.
<span id="midArticle_0"/>Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said the flotilla was in international waters about midway along thecoast of Oman on Friday and still headed northeast.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>He declined to say the ships were going back to Iran orheaded toward Iran. Warren said the U.S. military did not knowtheir intent and the vessels could turn around at any point.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>But Warren did say the shift had helped to ease Washington'sconcerns.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"I think it's fair to say that this appears to be ade-escalation some of the tensions that were being discussedearlier in the week," Warren said.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the U.S. governmenthad warned Iran not to send weapons to Yemen that could be usedto threaten shipping traffic in the Gulf. Defense Secretary AshCarter said on Wednesday the United States was concerned theships might be carrying advanced weapons to Houthi rebels there.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said onThursday the ships, which were in international waters near thefrontier between Oman and Yemen, had turned away from Yemen.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>The U.S. Navy sent the USS Theodore Roosevelt and an escortwarship into the Arabian Sea earlier this week to support sevenU.S. warships already in the area around the Gulf of Adenbecause of concerns about growing instability in Yemen.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>The Iranian-backed Houthis sidelined the Yemeni centralgovernment after seizing the capital Sanaa in September. TheShi'ite Muslim Houthis have continued to advance south capturingmore territory.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>A Saudi-led coalition, supported by the United States,launched an air campaign to destroy heavy weapons controlled bythe Houthis that could threaten Saudi Arabia. The Saudis saytheir aim is to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it was ending its month-longbombing campaign against the Yemeni rebels and shifting to a newphase of its operations in Yemen. Bombing has continued sincethen, and U.S. officials have said the Saudis had indicated theywould continue to bomb as deemed necessary. (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Grant McCool)
<span id="midArticle_10"/>
<span id="midArticle_0"/>Army Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said the flotilla was in international waters about midway along thecoast of Oman on Friday and still headed northeast.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>He declined to say the ships were going back to Iran orheaded toward Iran. Warren said the U.S. military did not knowtheir intent and the vessels could turn around at any point.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>But Warren did say the shift had helped to ease Washington'sconcerns.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"I think it's fair to say that this appears to be ade-escalation some of the tensions that were being discussedearlier in the week," Warren said.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the U.S. governmenthad warned Iran not to send weapons to Yemen that could be usedto threaten shipping traffic in the Gulf. Defense Secretary AshCarter said on Wednesday the United States was concerned theships might be carrying advanced weapons to Houthi rebels there.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said onThursday the ships, which were in international waters near thefrontier between Oman and Yemen, had turned away from Yemen.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>The U.S. Navy sent the USS Theodore Roosevelt and an escortwarship into the Arabian Sea earlier this week to support sevenU.S. warships already in the area around the Gulf of Adenbecause of concerns about growing instability in Yemen.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>The Iranian-backed Houthis sidelined the Yemeni centralgovernment after seizing the capital Sanaa in September. TheShi'ite Muslim Houthis have continued to advance south capturingmore territory.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>A Saudi-led coalition, supported by the United States,launched an air campaign to destroy heavy weapons controlled bythe Houthis that could threaten Saudi Arabia. The Saudis saytheir aim is to restore President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it was ending its month-longbombing campaign against the Yemeni rebels and shifting to a newphase of its operations in Yemen. Bombing has continued sincethen, and U.S. officials have said the Saudis had indicated theywould continue to bomb as deemed necessary. (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Grant McCool)
<span id="midArticle_10"/>
via Smart Health Shop Forum http://ift.tt/1PxhSex
No comments:
Post a Comment