Sana’a: Saudi-led coalition jets on Sunday bombed an Al Houthi military position and army bases in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, in what appeared to be retaliation against Yemen’s dominant group for the killing of dozens of coalition soldiers two days ago.
The air strikes targeted troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, an ally of Al Houthis, and an Al Houthi base in what was the Al Imam University, a religious school affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood in northern Sana’a.
Residents said explosions could be heard all night and buildings had been levelled, but there were no immediate reports of casualties as most people in the area had been evacuated.
“The sounds of explosions had not stopped since 1.15am (2215 GMT),” one resident said.
The raids hit military bases on the Nahdain and Fajj Attan hills and the neighbouring presidential complex, south of Sana’a, as well as the headquarters of the special forces.
Also targeted were Al Houthi positions in the northern neighbourhoods of Sufan and Al Nahda, forcing scores of residents to flee to other areas for safety, the witnesses said.
On Saturday, at least 24 members of two families were killed in Sana’a by air strikes targeting Al Houthi positions in the city, according to local medical sources. Hospital officials said on Sunday the death toll had risen to 27.
On Friday, the Iranian-allied Al Houthis had attacked a weapons storage facility in Marib, exiled President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s supporters had been massing troops and military hardware in preparation for an assault on Sana’a.
The attack killed 45 Emirati soldiers, 10 Saudis and four Yemenis. Five Bahraini soldiers also died on the same day.
It was the heaviest toll suffered by the Saudi-led alliance since air strikes began in March to try to restore Hadi to power after the Al Houthis began advancing on his main base in the southern port city of Aden.
UAE forces were important in helping Hadi’s supporters drive the Al Houthis and their allies out of Aden, a big win for the Arab coalition.
