Saudi-led airstrikes kill 40 Houthi gunmen in Yemen's Aden

Up to 40 members of the Shiite Houthi group were killed during two days of intensified Saudi-led airstrikes against Houthi-controlled positions in Yemen's southern port city of Aden, the city's deputy governor told Xinhua on Friday.

"During the past two days, warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition helped the anti-Houthi fighters on ground and destroyed several Houthi-controlled positions and buildings near Aden's northern entrance and in khorMaksar district," said Aden's deputy governor Naif Bakry.

"Confirmed reports show that up to 40 Houthi fighters who were hiding inside some hotels and deserted residential buildings were all killed in the continuing Saudi-led airstrikes since," Bakry added.

Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition continued it raids on Friday morning against targets of the Houthi gunmen inside Aden, according to local residents. There are no immediate reports of casualties.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting continued Friday between Houthi gunmen and tribal militia loyal to Yemen's exiled President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi across Aden's neighborhoods, leaving several people killed from both sides.

An army commander told Xinhua that Houthi gunmen shelled positions held by pro-Hadi militia in Aden's district of Daar Saad with Katyusha rocket launchers and killed 10 people at the scene.

Saudi Arabia, along with eight other Arab states, have been bombing the Houthi group and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26, aiming to reinstate the legitimate government of Hadi, who was forced to flee the country. Endit