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Update: Saudi-led air strikes kill dozens in Yemen

Xinhua, May 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Saudi-led coalition bombed military camps in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and targets in other cities on Wednesday, killing dozens of people, sources said.

The air raids were targeted against the military bases of al-Nahdain Mountain and the Special Security Forces camp in Sanaa, which has been controlled by the Shiite Houthi group since September last year, Yemen's official Saba news agency reported.

"About 40 people were martyred and more than 100 others injured in a preliminary toll after the airstrikes by Saudi aggression's warplanes on the military bases of al-Nahdain Mountain and the Special Security Forces camp in Sanaa," said Saba which is under control of the Shiite Houthi group.

In the northwestern province of Hajja, the airstrikes targeted Houthi gatherings in al-Mazrak area near the border with Saudi Arabia, killing at least 39 Houthis and injuring 18 others, a local official told Xinhua by phone.

Meanwhile, the coalition on Wednesday destroyed the navy in the Red Sea city of al-Hodayda, as well as military camps in the provinces of Taiz, Hajja, Marib and Saada.

"All the naval base's weapons, arms depot, equipments and infrastructures were totally ruined by the Saudi warplanes,including two warships," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"The naval base was hit by up to 20 rounds of air strikes since dawn until midday," he said. "There were tens of soldiers were killed and scores of others wounded," he added without specifying the number of toll. But a military medic there told Xinhua that around 32 soldiers were confirmed killed in the airstrikes.

The naval base in al-Hodayda fell to the control of the Houthis in September last year.

Saudi Arabia, along with eight other Arab states, have been bombing Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26, with the aim of reinstating the government of exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, forced to flee the country and currently being hosted by the Saudis.

In Yemen's central province of Marib, the air strikes hit Houthi gatherings in Sarwah area and Marthid Mountain, killing at least 13 people, a tribal official told Xinhua.

He said the local Sunni tribal fighters managed to recapture the Marthid Mountain after the airstrikes.

Residents in the southern port city of Aden also reported intensified air strikes against the Houthis, as well as heavy ground battles.

Officials in the southern province of Taiz said several air strikes targeted the Houthis and army units loyal to Saleh as ground battles between the Houthi and Saleh forces continued against pro-Hadi tribes.

On Tuesday, the tribal fighters launched an all-out offensive against Houthi gunmen in the southern province of al-Dhalea and regained control over the province after defeating the Houthis on the ground.

The battles left at least 23 people dead, according to local military official.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon requested Tuesday that the special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, postpone the planned consultations aiming towards a peaceful Yemeni-led political transition process in Yemen, according to a statement.

"The secretary-general is disappointed that it has not been possible to commence such an important initiative at the soonest possible date and he reiterates his call for all parties to engage in UN-facilitated consultations in good faith and without pre-conditions," the statement said.

"He also reiterated that the only durable resolution to the crisis in Yemen is an inclusive negotiated political settlement," it added.

The consultations, due to be held in Geneva on May 28, would have united all Yemeni factions including the government, the Shiite Houthi group, Saleh's party and other stakeholders in an effort to stop the battles in Yemen. Endit