AFP, Sana’a :
Saudi Arabia and Egypt are considering holding large-scale military exercises after launching air strikes on Yemeni rebels who have been slapped with a UN arms embargo and sanctions.
In a possible sign the Saudi-led air campaign against the Shiite rebels might expand into a ground operation, Cairo said it and Riyadh were mulling the drills in Saudi Arabia with other Gulf countries participating.
“It was decided to form a joint military committee to look into a large-scale strategic manoeuvre on Saudi territory,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s office said late Tuesday after he met the Saudi defense minister.
Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab countries launched the air strikes on March 26, after the rebels seized the capital Sanaa last year and advanced on the main southern city of Aden, where President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi had taken refuge.
Hadi fled to Riyadh from Aden, which has since seen heavy fighting between pro- and anti-government forces, with overnight rebel attacks killing at least seven people.
Saudi Arabia has accused Tehran the main Shiite power of arming the rebels and the conflict has heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani insisted that the Islamic Republic is not seeking regional dominance.
His country’s “ultimate goal is not Iran’s domination of the region (or) the dominance of the Shiite on Sunni,” he said.
“For us there is no difference between the Shiites and the Sunnis, Turks, Arabs, Persians or Baluchis,” Rouhani said in a speech in the Caspian Sea city of Rasht.
‘No half measures’
In Riyadh, coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri charged that “Iran has played a role in arming these militia” and must stop.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt are considering holding large-scale military exercises after launching air strikes on Yemeni rebels who have been slapped with a UN arms embargo and sanctions.
In a possible sign the Saudi-led air campaign against the Shiite rebels might expand into a ground operation, Cairo said it and Riyadh were mulling the drills in Saudi Arabia with other Gulf countries participating.
“It was decided to form a joint military committee to look into a large-scale strategic manoeuvre on Saudi territory,” Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s office said late Tuesday after he met the Saudi defense minister.
Saudi Arabia and a coalition of Arab countries launched the air strikes on March 26, after the rebels seized the capital Sanaa last year and advanced on the main southern city of Aden, where President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi had taken refuge.
Hadi fled to Riyadh from Aden, which has since seen heavy fighting between pro- and anti-government forces, with overnight rebel attacks killing at least seven people.
Saudi Arabia has accused Tehran the main Shiite power of arming the rebels and the conflict has heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani insisted that the Islamic Republic is not seeking regional dominance.
His country’s “ultimate goal is not Iran’s domination of the region (or) the dominance of the Shiite on Sunni,” he said.
“For us there is no difference between the Shiites and the Sunnis, Turks, Arabs, Persians or Baluchis,” Rouhani said in a speech in the Caspian Sea city of Rasht.
‘No half measures’
In Riyadh, coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri charged that “Iran has played a role in arming these militia” and must stop.
