A Saudi Arabia-led coalition of states began carrying out airstrikes in neighbouring Yemen on 25 March 2015, heralding the start of a military intervention in Yemen, codenamed Operation Decisive Storm (Arabic: عملية عاصÙØ© الØزم). The intervention began in response to requests for assistance from the internationally recognized but domestically contested Yemeni government, due to a Houthi offensive aimed at its provisional capital of Aden. On 26 March 2015, Yemeni President Hadi arrived at an Al-Riyadh airbase and was met by Saudi Defense Minister Mohammad bin Salman Al Saud as Saudi Arabia and its allies launched airstrikes in Yemen against the Houthis and loyalists forces. His route from Aden to Riyadh was not immediately known.
Warplanes from Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain are also taking part in the operation. In addition, Egypt, Jordan and Sudan are ready to participate in a ground offensive. Pakistan was also called in by Saudi Arabia to join the coalition but decided to stay neutral as it is on friendly terms with both Saudi Arabia and Iran.