Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launches 14 airstrikes on Houthis

Sanaa, June 5 (IANS) Yemen’s Houthi militia said the Saudi-led coalition launched 14 airstrikes on their positions.

The group’s al-Masirah TV on Thursday reported four airstrikes on Haradh district in Hajjah province, one on al-Buka area in Saada and nine on Sirwah district in Marib, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Saudi-led coalition has made no comment on the Houthi allegations.

On Monday, the coalition announced the interception of two drones launched by the Houthi militia toward the Saudi border city of Khamis Mushait against civilians.

Turki Al-Maliki, spokesman of the coalition, said the Houthis reject the ceasefire that has been enforced by the coalition since April 9.

The ceasefire decision came after a call by UN Secretary-General Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths for warring parties to lay down their weapons.

Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of much of the country’s north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in early 2015 to support Hadi’s government.

The five-year civil war has pushed more than 20 million to the brink of starvation.

–IANS

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