Civilians killed as Saudi coalition resumes airstrikes on Yemeni capital
Wed Aug 10, 2016 11:01:am World
2K By sosa hills
A Saudi led military coalition has conducted air strikes on the Yemeni capital Sanaa for the first time in more than three months and locals said that 14 civilians were killed in a factory.
Medics working in the area told the Reuters news agency that the civilians were killed in a strike on a crisp factory in the Nahda district of the capital.
The strikes also forced the suspension of flights into Sanaa International Airport for 72 hours from late on Monday.
Coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assiri confirmed to the AFP news agency that the air strikes against Houthi rebels had restarted and led to the closure of Sanaa airport, saying fighter jets had hit military targets "around" the city. The strikes came after UN-backed talks to end the conflict broke down over the weekend.
The Saudi led coalition is backing Yemeni forces loyal to the exiled government of President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi who are trying to oust Iran allied Houthi forces from Sanaa.
Strikes hit a presidential compound and a military base in the capital as well as a Republican Guard base in the Arhab area near the airport, according to reports.
Pro-government forces are trying to advance into the city from the north and east. The coalition was also blamed by residents for nine civilian deaths in an air strike outside the capital on Sunday, Reuters reported.
In a separate development, residents in Azzan in the southern Shabwa province said alQaeda fighters had dismantled their checkpoints and withdrawn from the city on Tuesday after air strikes, apparently by the Saudi led coalition, targeted their positions there.
Medics working in the area told the Reuters news agency that the civilians were killed in a strike on a crisp factory in the Nahda district of the capital.
The strikes also forced the suspension of flights into Sanaa International Airport for 72 hours from late on Monday.
Coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assiri confirmed to the AFP news agency that the air strikes against Houthi rebels had restarted and led to the closure of Sanaa airport, saying fighter jets had hit military targets "around" the city. The strikes came after UN-backed talks to end the conflict broke down over the weekend.
The Saudi led coalition is backing Yemeni forces loyal to the exiled government of President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi who are trying to oust Iran allied Houthi forces from Sanaa.
Strikes hit a presidential compound and a military base in the capital as well as a Republican Guard base in the Arhab area near the airport, according to reports.
Pro-government forces are trying to advance into the city from the north and east. The coalition was also blamed by residents for nine civilian deaths in an air strike outside the capital on Sunday, Reuters reported.
In a separate development, residents in Azzan in the southern Shabwa province said alQaeda fighters had dismantled their checkpoints and withdrawn from the city on Tuesday after air strikes, apparently by the Saudi led coalition, targeted their positions there.
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