As many as 800
Egyptian soldiers arrived in Yemen late on Tuesday, Reuters reported today. This is the first reported deployment of
ground forces by Egypt in the Yemeni conflict. Four Egyptian Army companies,
each with 150-200 troops, along with tanks and armored vehicles were deployed,
Egyptian security sources told the news agency.
On Monday, Qatar also announced the deployment of 1,000 troops along with 200 armored vehicles and 30 Apache combat helicopters to Yemen. The Qataris and Egyptians will join forces in a coalition with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain to fight the Houthi-Saleh alliance to retake the territories captured by the insurgents.
Yemeni officials had put the number of troops from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain to more than 2,000 (Reuters, 9 September). With the deployment of the Egyptian troops that number has now increased to around 3,000. A few thousands of Yemeni militia fighters trained by the Saudis had also been deployed to Yemen. These forces join local militia and tribal fighters in a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the war against Houthi/Saleh alliance, which is backed by Iran.
UPDATE: An unnamed Egyptian official told a local TV channel that Reuters report on Egypt deploying up to 800 troops to Yemen is incorrect.
File photo: Egyptian troops; Cairo, November 2014 (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
On Monday, Qatar also announced the deployment of 1,000 troops along with 200 armored vehicles and 30 Apache combat helicopters to Yemen. The Qataris and Egyptians will join forces in a coalition with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain to fight the Houthi-Saleh alliance to retake the territories captured by the insurgents.
Yemeni officials had put the number of troops from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain to more than 2,000 (Reuters, 9 September). With the deployment of the Egyptian troops that number has now increased to around 3,000. A few thousands of Yemeni militia fighters trained by the Saudis had also been deployed to Yemen. These forces join local militia and tribal fighters in a coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the war against Houthi/Saleh alliance, which is backed by Iran.
UPDATE: An unnamed Egyptian official told a local TV channel that Reuters report on Egypt deploying up to 800 troops to Yemen is incorrect.
File photo: Egyptian troops; Cairo, November 2014 (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)
