12 Yemeni civilians killed by Saudi-led air bombardment

ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- A total of 12 Yemeni civilians were killed and several others injured during air bombardment conducted by Saudi-led warplanes in the southwestern province of Taiz on Thursday, a military official told Xinhua.

The Saudi-led aircrafts targeted with a number of air raids a bridge linking between Barah and Makbana in Taiz province, causing casualties among civilians, the military official said on condition of anonymity.

"The air bombardment also completely destroys the bridge," the Yemeni military source said.

In recent days, civilians were targeted by Saudi-led airstrikes either in the southwestern province of Taiz or in the strategic port city of Hodeidah, where intense fighting is still ongoing.

Fighting between the Shiite Houthi rebels and Yemeni government troops backed by the United Arab Emirates flared up intensely near the strategic western port city of Hodeidah.

The UAE-backed Yemeni troops managed to make great on-ground advancements and kicked the Houthi rebels out of key areas close to the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeidah.

Saudi-led military coalition has intensified military air campaign against Houthi positions in and around the Houthi rebels-held capital Sanaa since Houthis killed Former President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Dec. 4.

The coalition has intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to roll back Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels, and backed internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi whom Houthis forced into exile in Saudi Arabia.

The war has killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly children, displaced 3 million, and triggered the world's most humanitarian catastrophe.

Tensions have escalated in Sanaa and other northern provinces after Houthis killed their top ally strongman Saleh after he changed alliance and backed the anti-Houthi coalition. Enditem