Saudi-led warplanes hit Yemen rebel-held air, naval defenses

Warplanes from Saudi-led Arab coalition hit Yemen's military airport in the capital Sanaa and a naval base in the Red Sea port of al-Hodayda on Wednesday, military officials said.

They said the raids destroyed air defense systems in warehouses at al-Dailamy Airport, the headquarters of the air force base north of Sanaa, and anti-ships missiles at the naval base in al-Hodayda.

Both bases are under control of Shiite Houthi rebels who stormed the capital in last September and seized control of the al-Hodayda port city in October.

Residents reported three air strikes on al-Dailamy military airport early Wednesday morning, and said they saw flames and explosions at the airport's warehouses.

It was the first air attack on targets in the capital in a month, as the air strikes concentrated against the rebels in southern and central provinces.

On the Red Sea port of al-Hodayda, some 226 km east of Sanaa, the warplanes stroke several depots at the naval base, as well as its quay on Wednesday dawn, officials there said. The strikes set off a series of explosions that sent fire and smoke to the air for hours, according to witnesses.

The navy was targeted for the second straight day after Tuesday's air attacks destroyed large parts of its facilities amid reports of Saudi-led coalition's warships are approaching the area aiming to control the strategic port.

There were no reports of casualties in Sanaa and al-Hodayda.

Ground battles intensified elsewhere in the central city of Taiz between coalition-backed fighters loyal to exiled Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Iranian-allied rebels supported by military forces run by former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was forced out of power in 2012 after a yearlong of popular protests.

The clashes overnight raged on in several locations in Taiz after the rebels and allied forces managed to rush reinforcements to the frontlines after their opponents achieved a series of recent advances.

Independent and official sources said Wednesday the fighting left at least 15 rebels and three pro-government fighters dead, while 14 others were wounded from both sides.

Taiz, the third largest Yemeni city about 256 km south of Sanaa is seen the main gateway to the capital.

About five months of escalating violence across Yemen has left over 80 percent of the country's population, or more than 20 million people, in hunger and in need of emergency aid as the people have limited access to electricity, fuel, food, water and medicine since the civil war broke out in late March.

The recent advances by forces loyal to the government exiled to the Saudi capital Riyadh have been backed by a Saudi-led coalition's warplanes against rebel positions.

On Saturday, the loyal forces regained full control over Yemen's southeastern province of Shabwa, the fifth southern province to be retaken by forces loyal to Yemen's exiled President Hadi since last month.

Over three weeks ago, Hadi's forces, backed by elite troops and armored vehicles from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, launched a number of offensives leading to the capture of Aden, Lahj, al-Dhalea and Abyan provinces.

The Arab coalition has been engaged in a war against the Houthis since late March to restore Hadi's legitimacy. The exiled government announced on July 17 that Saudi-backed fighters have taken full control of the southern port city of Aden after nearly five months of battles with Shiite Houthi rebels.

Hadi was ousted by the Shiite Houthi group who has controlled the capital Sanaa since last September. He fled to Aden in late February after weeks of house arrest, and has been taking refuge with his cabinet in the Saudi capital Riyadh since March 26. Endit