26 killed in Saudi coalition airstrike in Yemen

Image of buildings in ruin after being hit by Saudi airstrikes in Yemen [Reuters]

The death toll from an Arab coalition airstrike which hit a house in a residential area in western Yemen has risen to 26 people, medics and residents in the Houthi-held area said today, and the alliance said it was looking into the report.

Warplanes of the Saudi-led alliance launched missiles yesterday at a residential neighbourhood in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah where Houthi leaders were staying, a resident and medical workers in the Houthi-controlled area told Reuters.

The raid hit a house in a neighbourhood populated by workers, according to medical services and local officials. Apart from those killed, 60 others were wounded, they said.

The coalition, which began operations in Yemen in March last year to try to reverse the rise to power of the Iran-allied Houthi group, has repeatedly said it does not target civilians.

In a statement, the coalition said it was aware of reports alleging civilian casualties in Hodeidah city.

“As with any allegation we receive, the information about the incident will be reviewed, and once it is found supporting the allegation based on credible evidence we will then move to a next step of investigations,” the statement said.

The deputy governor of Hodeidah province, Hashim Azazi, had earlier put the death toll at 19 civilians, but said rescue workers were still pulling victims out of the rubble.

A Houthi leader, Ali Al-Amad, said in a tweet he had survived a raid on the presidential palace.