Saudi missiles kill 26 civilians, rebels say

Children among victims slain in Yemen while trying to flee in vehicle

Twenty-six civilians including children were killed Thursday when a Saudiled coalition missile strike hit an area in the province of Hodeida, a rebel medical source said.

Youssef al-Hadiri, spokesperson for the health ministry that is under the control of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, told the DPA news agency that airstrikes hit the Alkoui area of the Directorate of Durahmi and targeted a vehicle carrying civilians trying to escape the area.

Al-Hadiri said among those killed were 20 children, five women and the driver.

According to al-Hadiri, the victims were trying to escape Alkoui after a raid targeted a house in the area on Wednesday night, killing four civilians and wounding two others.

Local residents in the area confirmed that all the fatalities were civilians.

There was no statement or confirmation on the claims from the Saudi-led coalition.

Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, began an offensive to retake Hodeida from the Houthis in June.

Yemeni forces have since seized Hodeida's airport and are seeking to retake the city and its vital port, through which an estimated 80 per cent of imports and aid reach Yemen.

Aid agencies have warned that the offensive could have devastating consequences for the population, which is already on the brink of famine.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said late Thursday that it foiled an attack involving an explosives-laden boat on the shores of Hodeida that had been planned by Houthi rebels, the Saudi-owned television Al Arabiya reported.

The broadcaster quoted a coalition statement saying the Houthi militia and Iranian Revolutionary Guards “continue to threaten international shipping routes and international trade.”

It added the alliance had taken the necessary measures “to protect commercial vessels of the alliance.” Dubai-based Al Arabiya broadcast a video of the speedboat allegedly loaded with explosives.

Pro-Houthi broadcaster alMasirah, meanwhile, said its naval forces carried out a special operation. It added that the operation inside Saudi waters “hit its target accurately.”

One of the Arab world's poorest countries, Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating power struggle between the Saudi-backed government and the Houthis for almost four years.

The rebels took control of the capital, Sanaa, and other parts of the country in late 2014.

The conflict intensified when Saudi Arabia and other Sunni allies started an air campaign in 2015 to halt the Shiite group's advance toward Aden, the temporary seat of the government.