AP, Sanaa, Yemen :
Saudi Arabia intensified its airstrikes against the main Shiite rebel stronghold in Yemen, with warplanes carrying out more than 50 airstrikes strikes overnight and during the early hours on Friday, Saudi and Yemeni officials said.
The air strikes throw into question the future of a 5-day conditional ceasefire announced a day earlier by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the Saudi foreign minister so that humanitarian aid can reach millions of civilians caught up in the conflict that has killed more than 1,400 people.
The Saudi-led military coalition said the airstrikes in the northern province of Saada were in response to cross border attacks by the rebels targeting Saudi Arabian cities near the frontier.
Saudi airstrikes have been pummeling Saada – which is the stronghold of Shiite rebels known as Houthis – for more than a month since the start of a campaign against the rebels, who are allied with forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
On Friday, Saudi Press Agency reported that warplanes destroyed a land-mine factory, a telecommunications complex and command centers. Yemeni officials said that in addition to the more than 50 airstrikes, helicopters dropped leaflets calling on residents to stay away from rebel positions and houses. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The Houthis and Saleh’s forces overran Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, last September and are currently engaged in an offensive in southern Yemen and Aden – its main city. The offensive forced internationally-recognized President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the country in March and seek exile in the Saudi capital.
Saudi Arabia intensified its airstrikes against the main Shiite rebel stronghold in Yemen, with warplanes carrying out more than 50 airstrikes strikes overnight and during the early hours on Friday, Saudi and Yemeni officials said.
The air strikes throw into question the future of a 5-day conditional ceasefire announced a day earlier by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the Saudi foreign minister so that humanitarian aid can reach millions of civilians caught up in the conflict that has killed more than 1,400 people.
The Saudi-led military coalition said the airstrikes in the northern province of Saada were in response to cross border attacks by the rebels targeting Saudi Arabian cities near the frontier.
Saudi airstrikes have been pummeling Saada – which is the stronghold of Shiite rebels known as Houthis – for more than a month since the start of a campaign against the rebels, who are allied with forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
On Friday, Saudi Press Agency reported that warplanes destroyed a land-mine factory, a telecommunications complex and command centers. Yemeni officials said that in addition to the more than 50 airstrikes, helicopters dropped leaflets calling on residents to stay away from rebel positions and houses. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The Houthis and Saleh’s forces overran Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, last September and are currently engaged in an offensive in southern Yemen and Aden – its main city. The offensive forced internationally-recognized President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the country in March and seek exile in the Saudi capital.
