Arab coalition strikes rebels’ position in Sana’a, Houthi media

Sana’a, Jun 16 (efe-epa).- The Saudi-led Arab coalition on Tuesday carried out about a dozen airstrikes on positions of the Houthi rebels in and near the Yemeni capital of Sana’a, according to witnesses and media linked to the rebels.

The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency said that the coalition launched “five incursions” on the outskirts of Sana’a that targeted the area of Al-Nahdin and its surroundings.

Saba did not reveal whether the attacks caused causalities or material damage, although the coalition has yet to comment.

Witnesses told Efe that the strikes hit three Houthi military bases on the outskirts of Sana’a: the Air Defense Academy, Al-Nahdin Barracks and Aiban Mountain Air Defense positions.

A few hours later, coalition warplanes attacked Al-Dailami airbase near the Sana’a airport, according to area residents.

Another strike targeted a rebel position in Bait Adhran, located 50 km (31 mi.) to the west of Sana’a, while two other attacks took place in the northwestern province of Amran, according to the Houthi media.

On Monday, the Sana’a-based Houthi government said that at least 13 people were killed in a strike carried out by the Arab coalition in a remote area of northern Yemen.

The most recent attack on the capital – which has been controlled by the Houthis since 2014 – occurred on March 30 when the coalition announced a series of airstrikes.

Back then, the Houthis said that one person was killed and two were injured.

In the meantime, the coalition announced on Tuesday that it intercepted a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis from the province of Sadah on Najran in “a deliberate attempt to achieve civilian goals,” according to the Saudi state-run SPA news agency.

The Arab coalition was created by Riyadh in March 2015 to support the internationally-recognized Yemeni government that was expelled from the capital a year earlier and lost vast territories in northern and western parts of the country.

The coalition includes countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Sudan.

Saudi Arabia announced a unilateral ceasefire at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which concluded at the end of May.

The violence has been reduced in the country, but the warring parties failed to extend the truce.

Over the past few years, the coalition has repeatedly attacked Sadah and Houthi positions, including in Sana’a.

It has been accused by humanitarian organizations of attacking civilian targets such as hospitals and schools.

However, the United Nations announced Monday that it had decided to drop the coalition from the black list it has been on since 2017 for killing and injuring children in its military operations.

EFE