30 soldiers killed in Al Houthi strikes on Yemen’s largest airbase

DUBAI: At least 30 soldiers were killed and 60 wounded on Sunday in Al Houthi strikes on a military base belonging to forces of the Saudi-led coalition in southwest Yemen, a spokesman for the southern forces and medical sources said.

The Al Houthi militia has carried out several attacks using armed drones and ballistic missiles on the Al Anad military base, Yemeni southern forces spokesman Mohammed Al Naqeeb said.

Naqeeb said that between 30 to 40 soldiers were killed and at least 60 wounded, adding the death toll may still rise as rescuers were still clearing the scene. The southern forces are part of the Saudi-led coalition.

Two medical sources said several bodies had arrived at Lahj province's main hospital along with another 16 wounded people. It was unclear if civilians were among the casualties.

Residents said that several loud blasts were heard in the Al Anad area, which is located at some 70km (43 miles) north of the southern port city of Aden.

Several other residents from the disputed central city of Taiz said they heard ballistic missiles fired from launchers positioned in the Houthi-held eastern suburbs of the city.

The war started in 2014 when Al Houthis invaded Sana'a and ousted the government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi. An Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in March 2015 to restore Hadi to power but the ensuing conflict, now stalemated, has killed tens of thousands and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The attacks came at a time when peace talks between the Saudi-led coalition and Al Houthis, and backed by the United Nations and the United States, have stalled after both sides failed to reach a compromise deal.

The talks are focused on steps to lift a blockade on Al Houthi-held ports and Sana'a airport in return for a promise from the Iran-aligned group for truce talks.