Yemen crisis: US stepping up intelligence sharing with Saudi-led coalition against Houthis

The US has said it is stepping up intelligence sharing with the Saudi Arabia-led coalition to boost the ongoing military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Antony Blinken, the US deputy secretary of state, visited Riyadh holding a series of meetings with top Saudi authorities over the Yemen operations.

Addressing a press conference from the Saudi capital, the American official said: "As part of that effort, we have expedited weapons deliveries, we have increased our intelligence sharing, and we have established a joint coordination planning cell in the Saudi operation centre."

This will further help the Saudi-led Sunni forces to pinpoint locations of the Houthi Shi'ite fighters to bomb them. Blinken said the assistance will convey a strong message to the Shi'ite-dominated forces in Yemen that the war-torn country cannot be captured by force.

Blinken, nevertheless, insisted avoiding civilian casualties in the Saudi military campaign, dubbed Operation Decisive Storm, remains top priority.

In Washington, the Pentagon confirmed that the US is accelerating its commitments to deliver arms to Saudi Arabia in order to strengthen the military offensive.

"It's a combination of pre-existing orders made by our partner nations and some new requirements as they expend munitions," Pentagon spokesperson colonel Steve Warren told reporters.

Saudi forces have been pounding Houthi targets in Yemen for the past few weeks as they continue to seize key territories.