Weeks of Saudi airstrikes against Yemeni cities have extended into the first deployment of ground troops over the weekend, with witnesses confirming Saudi special forces on the ground in Aden, backed by helicopter gunships.

Saudi officials had denied yesterday that there was any “major” operation ongoing, but had declined to discuss exactly what was happening in Aden, a city seen as extremely important to their war effort.

In previous weeks, Saudis had tried to drop weapons to the remnants of former President Hadi’s forces, hoping this and the airstrikes would shift the tide of battle against the Shi’ite Houthis, who control most of the rest of the country.

Not making much progress that way, the Saudis seem to be bringing in the first of their ground troops. With massive numbers of troops massed around the northern border, this may just be the first of a full-scale war.