Saudiled coalition strikes at Yemen capital after attacks
ADEN: Saudiled coalition warplanes struck targets in Yemen’s Houthiheld capital Sanaa on Thursday in retaliation for attacks in the southern port city of Aden the previous day, which took place as officials in a government backed by Riyadh arrived there.
The coalition accused the Houthi movement, which it has been fighting for six years, of staging the attack on Aden’s airport and a second one on the presidential palace.
Thursday’s coalition air strikes hit Sanaa airport and several other sites in and around the city, residents said. Loud blasts were heard and warplanes flew overhead for several hours.
Houthirun Masirah television said the planes hit at least 15 locations in different districts in the capital. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
At least 22 people were killed and dozens more wounded in Wednesday’s attack on Aden airport, which took place just as members of President AbdRabbu Mansour Hadi’s internationally recognised government’s new cabinet arrived from Saudi Arabia. A second attack was made on the Maasheq palace, where they had been taken to safety.
A coalition statement said the alliance had downed an explosiveladen Houthi drone that was targeting the palace.
‘‘The desperate, terrorist attack to target Maasheq palace confirms the responsibility of the terrorist, Iranbacked Houthi militia of the attack in Aden International Airport,’’ the statement said. — Reuters