Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — U.S. military officials said the Pentagon has expanded weapons shipments to the Saudi-led Arab coalition now conducting an air campaign against Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen.

By taking an active interest, the United States is deepening its involvement in the Yemen conflict which is being viewed in the region as a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The McClatchy news agency reported that the weapons are likely precision-guided weapons as the Saudi alliance has no troops on the ground to provide targeting coordinates.

“It’s a combination of pre-existing orders to our partners and some new requirements,” said Army Col. Steve Warren, describing the arms shipments.

In another indication of increased U.S. involvement, an American military team headed by Marine Maj. Gen. Sam Bundy, deputy commander of the Marines at the U.S. Central Command, has joined a “joint fusion center” in Saudi Arabia that is conducting the air strikes in Yemen.

The Gulf Arab states launched the air campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi forces on March 26 after an emergency summit prompted by the Houthis’ control of the capital city Sanaa and advance on Aden from which President Mansour Hadi was driven into exile in Saudi Arabia.

  Saudis, U.S. expands military involvement in Yemen’s proxy war between Iran, WorldTribune.com