The Saudi-led military offensive against Iranian backed Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen is not having an impact on the international nuclear negotiations over Iran�s nuclear program, State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke said at a press briefing.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)�� Rathke noted that US Secretary of�State John Kerry briefly discussed the crisis in�Yemen with�Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on�the sidelines of�the nuclear negotiation in�Switzerland earlier on�Thursday.The last-minute nuclear negotiations over�Iran�s nuclear program prior to�an end of�March deadline come as�a Saudi Arabia-led coalition of�mostly Arab nations started carrying out�airstrikes against�Shiite Houthi forces in�Yemen on�Wednesday.

The airstrikes against�the Houthis, who are allegedly supported by�Iran, occurred after�the Houthi rebels gained further ground

The Saudi-led coalition said it may introduce ground troops in�Yemen.

The United States is backing its Arab allies and has agreed to�provide logistical and intelligence support for�the military operation, but�is not participating in�the airstrikes.

The Shiite Houthi militants forced President Hadi and his government to�resign in�late January 2015 after�taking over�the capital in�September 2014. The group then dissolved Yemen's parliament and announced the forming of�a Presidential Council. Hadi, who was placed under�house-arrest in�Sanaa, fled to�the port city of�Aden in�February, and disavowed his resignation.

By Sputnik News