British ambassador to Yemen says his country deploys troops in Yemen

SANAA, Jun. 29 (YPA) – The UK ambassador to Yemen, Michael Aron, has on Tuesday confirmed that his country has deployed troops in Saudi-occupied areas in eastern Yemen, in a clear recognition of his country’s direct involvement in the six-year war, Yemen News Portal reported.

Aron pointed out during a TV statement that his country has military units in the province of Mahrah, one of the most prominent strategic sites in eastern Yemen.

He justified the British military presence by calling it “counterterrorism” although Mahrah is known to have never been the scene of terrorist groups except those resettled by the coalition on the Omani border as part of their long-term presence plan in the province, which Saudi Arabia is seeking to turn into a gateway to export Saudi oil through the Arabian Sea.

The United Kingdom recently redeployed military units along Yemen’s southern and eastern coasts, as part of a repositioning of troops following its plans tp withdraw from Afghanistan alongside the United States.

The admission by the ambassador, who in earlier statements confirmed that British experts are running Hadi’s government through the Prime Minister’s office and the Central Bank, reveals a new aspect of the international dimensions related to the occupation of Yemen’s strategic areas by the Saudi-led invasion force since 2015.

E.M