US ‘deeply concerned’ by rebel takeover in Yemen; US counterterror operations continue

WASHINGTON – The White House says it is “deeply concerned” by the takeover of Yemen by Shiite rebels who have announced that they’ve dissolved parliament.

White House spokesman Eric Schultz calls it a unilateral step. He says the move by the Houthi rebels doesn’t meet the standard set by the U.N. envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, to achieve consensus in Yemen.

But Schultz also says U.S. counterterror operations in Yemen are continuing, uninterrupted, despite the takeover by the Houthis.

The Houthis announced the takeover in a televised announcement Friday from the Republican Palace in the capital, Sanaa, The group said it was also forming a 151-member presidential council to act as a government for an interim two-year period. The dramatic move finalizes their power grab, which has been months in the making.