United States Vice President Mike Pence has shed light on the slain Iranian top general Qassem Soleimani’s role in the targeting of civilian airports in Saudi Arabia.
“In Yemen, the Qods Force, under Soleimani’s leadership, has orchestrated and enabled the launch of missiles that have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in the region. Targets have included civilian airports in Saudi Arabia,” Pence tweeted.
Saudi Arabia has been exposed to numerous military projectiles and Iranian-made missiles. Previous United Nations reports have also stated that Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen fired cross-border rockets at Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom has been targeted by 220 ballistic missiles and many military projectiles, among whose targets were holy places, civilian airports, and residential homes.
Meanwhile, a Yemeni security official warned that Iran has issued orders for retaliation for Soleimani’s killing.
Major General Mohammed al-Sharif noted that the Yemeni interior ministry has raised alertness and is prepared to tackle any crime staged by Houthi militias. He added that a plan has been set in motion to respond to potential violence.
“The Ministry has taken the necessary measures and raised the state of readiness in all its sectors in anticipation of hostilities staged by coup militias,” Sharif noted in a phone interview with Asharq Al-Awsat.
Some of the prominent preparations, according to Sharif, include intensifying monitoring operations by security services, raising the state of preparedness for rapid intervention forces, and pushing individual and automatic reinforcements nearby conflict zones.
Sharif also revealed the existence of intelligence coordination between Yemeni apparatuses and member states of the Arab Coalition.
He also predicted that threats issued by militias will remain within the context of retaliatory speech without any action.
Ground realities, according to Sharif, suggest that Houthis stand to lose control over some areas if they recklessly engage in more violence.
