Coalition source: Senior Yemeni rebel shot down at border

RIYADH: The Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of Yemen’s government has killed a senior Yemeni rebel leader on the border, announced a source close to the coalition.

Hassan Almalsi, head of Huthi rebel “special forces”, was killed two days earlier “during an infiltration attempt along with his squad at Najran”, which borders Yemen, said the source who asked for anonymity.

He said Almalsi held the rank of rebel “major-general”. The Huthis are allied with soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

In late 2014, they seized Yemen’s capital Sanaa before moving into other parts of the country.

Saudi Arabia in March 2015 formed an Arab coalition to begin air strikes and ground support for forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who fled to Riyadh.

More than 30 civilians have been killed in rebel bombardments of the Najran area since the coalition intervention began.

Riyadh faces mounting international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its Yemen air campaign.