Saudi-Led Coalition Bombs Yemen's Sanaa, Saada Overnight

A Saudi-led military coalition has carried out overnight airstrikes on Yemeni capital Sanaa and northern Saada province, the stronghold of the Shiite Houthi group.



The airstrikes focused on Saada as a primary target, destroying a number of arms depots belonging to the Shiite Houthi group, local residents told The Anadolu Agency.



The air raids also targeted several strategic sites for the Houthis, as flames could be seen devouring a military encampment and arms depots.



The coalition also launched a series of airstrikes on Saturday evening that lasted until the early hours of the following day.



The strikes targeted several military sites under Houthi control, including an airbase in northern Sanaa, a rocket launching site and the command center for Republican Guard's reserve units in the southern region of the capital.



Houthis responded to the coalition airstrikes with heavy fire from anti-aircraft guns in various spots across Sanaa.



Traffic in the capital on Sunday was negligible amid continued closure of storefronts and shopping centers as well as the suspension of schools, an Anadolu Agency correspondent reported.



Having occupied capital Sanaa and sought to extend their influence in other Yemeni provinces, the Shiite Houthi group pitted itself against Sunni tribes and loyalists of the embattled President ABD Rabbuh Mansour Hadi  who has left for Saudi Arabia.



Several Arab states have joined a Saudi-led offensive which kicked off late Wednesday with a string of airstrikes against the positions of the Houthi group in Yemen, including some in capital Sanaa.



Saudi Arabia said the strikes were in response to calls by Hadi for military intervention to "save the people from the Houthi militias."



The Gulf countries accuse Shiite Iran of supporting the Houthi insurgency.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Sana