Saudi air strikes kill eight more civilians in Yemen, medical sources say

Saudi-led airstrikes targeting a military camp killed eight civilians in the central Yemeni city of Taiz on Sunday, a medical source said. The air raids were aimed at a site held by soldiers loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who have joined up with Iranian-allied Houthi rebels against local militias in the south, the source said. Four civilians were shot dead in the city’s Mualla and Dar Saad districts on Saturday, a medic at the Ba-Suhaib military hospital said. Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies began air strikes against the Houthis more than two weeks ago, hoping to halt their advance towards the southern port city of Aden.

This is an attempt to impose a fait accompli by force and violence. Aden shall withstand and win.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Mohammad Gargash

Saudi Arabia is concerned that the violence could spill over the border it shares with Yemen, and is also worried about the influence of Shi'ite Iran, which has denied Saudi allegations it has provided direct military support to the Houthis. While the Houthis deny getting help from Shi'ite Iran and say their armed campaign is designed to stamp out corruption and Sunni al Qaeda militants, Saudi Arabia and its allies describe them as an Iranian-backed threat to regional security.