Egypt's ambassador to Yemen won't rule out ground troops
In an interview with Al-Monitor, Egyptian Ambassador Youssef al-Sharqawy says that despite his country's participation in Operation Decisive Storm, it will not play a political role in resolving the conflict in Yemen.
A coalition of states launched Operation Decisive Storm against the Houthi movement's Ansar Allah in Yemen March 26. After the Shiite group took control of the presidential palace in Sanaa, the military operation began hitting Houthi strongholds. The coalition consists of the Arab states of Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in addition to Pakistan and Turkey.
As the campaign enters its second week, questions are increasing about the role of the Egyptian forces involved in the operation. Egyptians are also anxious about the fate of fellow countrymen working in Yemen, of which there is no official count.
Al-Monitor had an exclusive interview with Youssef al-Sharqawy, Egypt's ambassador to Yemen on April 6 who returned to Cairo March 25 hours before the start of Operation Decisive Storm.
The full text of the interview follows:
