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Coalition intensifies airstrikes in Yemen as UN envoy brokers ceasefire

Xinhua, July 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes overnight on military targets of the Houthi group in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa as the UN envoy arrived in the country to broker a ceasefire, officials and witnesses said on Monday.

The airstrike was one of the most intense since the campaign began three months ago, according to local residents.

The air raids began early Sunday night and lasted until Monday dawn, which targeted military sites, Houthi leaders' houses and the headquarters of Houthi-allied General People's Congress party (GPC) led by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Witnesses said the GPC headquarters in southern Sanaa was completely destroyed by warplanes. Houses of several senior GPC officials and military commanders of the Yemeni army were also bombed in the overnight strikes.

The house of Houthi leader Khaled al-Anduly in al-Jeraf neighborhood in Sanaa was also hit by the missiles, according to witnesses.

Residents said the explosions rocked the whole city and damaged civilians houses. There is no report of casualties but residents said many civilians were injured.

Meanwhile, the warplanes bombed military cites in Houthi stronghold of Saada province, which borders Saudi Arabia. Tribal sources said at least 30 Houthi fighters and civilians were killed and many others injured in Saada.

In the southern port city of Aden, Yemen's second largest city that saw the most deadly ground battles, local officials said overnight airstrikes killed at least 40 Houthis and army soldiers and forced them to retreat to the northern entrance of the city.

With support of the Saudi-led coalition, tribal fighters loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi gained ground in southern provinces on Monday. Officials said at least 17 Houthis and four tribal fighters were killed in battles in the southern province of al-Dhalee. In the oil-rich Marib province, tribal fighters have managed to take over control of more areas.

The escalation came with the arrival of the UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who is expected to push for a pause in the fighting till the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to allow for deliveries of humanitarian aid.

Cheikh Ahmed, who arrived in Sanaa on Sunday, will meet with officials from the Houthi group and Saleh's GPC party.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Wednesday for an immediate end to the fighting in Yemen to help stem the unfolding humanitarian "catastrophe."

He called on the parties to agree, at the very minimum, on an immediate pause in hostilities until the end of the holy month of Ramadan, so that humanitarian aid can be delivered into and across Yemen and reach people cut off from vital supplies for months, according to a UN statement.

On Friday, the UN alerted aid groups to be prepared for a possible humanitarian pause in the fighting that would allow them to deliver help to some of the 21 million people in need. Endit