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Yemen slides into abyss of battles as airstrikes resume

Xinhua, April 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Fierce battles continued Thursday between fighters of the Shiite Houthi group and tribal militia in Yemen's southern provinces amid fresh airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition forces on several cities.

"Since the announcement of halting the Saudi-led airstrikes, the Houthis stepped up attacks and took over control of more strategic military sites in several provinces in the country's southern part. There is no sign of retreat or ceasefire on ground," a top official of the Fourth Regional Military Command based in Aden told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

"Four districts in Aden province are completely deserted and thousands of civilians are trapped inside their homes with no food, water or electricity," the military source said.

The tribal militia loyal to exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and secessionists vowed to keep fighting against the Houthi group in southern Yemen despite half of air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition forces.

A medical official told Xinhua by phone that more than 25 people were killed and dozens of others wounded during battles from Wednesday night to Thursday in Aden city.

On Wednesday night, warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition forces resumed airstrikes and completely destroyed a Houthi-controlled hotel in khorMaksar district of Aden city, killing several people inside.

Military sources confirmed to Xinhua Thursday that the Saudi-led coalition forces launched air raids on Houthi targets in southern and northern provinces, killing dozens of people.

In Yemen's southern Taiz province, military aircrafts of the Saudi-led coalition forces bombed arms caches and headquarters of the 35th Armored Army Brigade seized by Houthi gunmen two days ago, causing a series of powerful explosions that rocked the provincial capital city.

The Saudi defence ministry announced Tuesday night that the coalition forces decided to suspend the Decisive Storm Operation against the Houthis launched since March 26, because the forces had eliminated threats against Saudi Arabia and the region by destroying heavy weaponry and missiles of the Houthi group.

The campaign enters the second stage "Return of Hope," that would focus on rebuilding the country while denying the rebels operational movement, finding political solution to the crisis, protecting civilians and supporting evacuation and relief operations.

The Houthi group has not responded to Saudi Arabia's announcement. However, Abdu al-Janady, spokesman of the General People's Congress (GPC) that is the biggest party in Yemen controlled by former president Ali Abdullash Saleh said Tuesday night that the party welcome Saudi Arabia's decision to end airstrikes on the Houthis and forces loyal to Saleh.

He said he hopes that the end of aggression on Yemen would be the end of any foreign military interference in the country.

He also renewed the party's call to all the Yemeni parties to resume dialogue to reach a solution to end the political crisis and to rebuild the country after the Saudi-led aggression.

Saudi Arabia bombed the army troops loyal to Saleh during the past four weeks for his alleged support for the Houthi group. Endit