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Saudi-led airstrikes pound Houthi targets in Yemen's capital

Xinhua, May 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Saudi-led coalition warplanes intensified airstrikes against positions of Yemen's Shiite Houthi group in the capital Sanaa on Saturday.

The warplanes launched more than 20 rounds of air raids against Houthi targets at the Sanaa International Airport, adjacent al-Dailamy Airport, the headquarters of the air force base and the ammunition depots, security sources said.

Witnesses said they saw flames and explosions at the civil and military airports, as well as adjacent ammunition depots, which led to the damage of residential neighborhoods. The missile base in southern Sanaa was also hit by the fighter jets.

Meantime, the forces of the Houthi group and ex-president Ali Abdullash Saleh continued battles against pro-government tribal fighters in central and southern provinces.

Local residents said the fighting intensified in populated areas in Aden, Taiz, al-Bayda, al-Hodayda and Marib province. The pro-government fighters last week managed to recapture the southern province of al-Dhalee after two months of fighting against Houthis.

Meanwhile, the Arab coalition bombed the village southeast of Sanaa, the birthplace of ex-president Saleh who slammed Saudi Arabia for more than two months of bombardment.

Saleh said the Saudi ambassador in Yemen met him and conveyed the kingdom's offer "to ally with fugitive President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Muslim Brotherhood against the Houthis."

"I told the Saudi ambassador it's not the matter of buying and selling. I rather support a national unity for all political parties in Yemen," he added.

"I did not expect that Saudi Arabia launches a direct war against Yemen," he said.

Saleh was forced to step down in 2011 after mass protests against his 33-year rule turned violent. He and his key aides were granted immunity after he signed a Gulf-brokered power transfer deal that enabled his deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to win the presidential election in 2011 as the only candidate.

The ex-president was accused of sabotaging the following transition process and supporting the Houthi group to overthrow Hadi's government.

In the interview, Saleh said Hadi who currently takes refuge in Saudi Arabia will not be allowed to return to Yemen and denied Hadi's legitimacy.

The Gulf countries tried to push comprehensive peace talks between all Yemeni parties since the Houthis seized control of the capital Sanaa in September 2014 that forced Hadi to move his administration to Yemen's southern port city of Aden.

Saudi Arabia, along with eight other Arab states, have been bombing Houthis and forces loyal to Saleh since March 26, with the aim of reinstating Hadi's government. Endite