Intensive airstrikes in Yemen ahead of UN truce

Saudi-led coalition fighter jets carried out about 25 airstrikes in the Yemeni city of Sa’dah, north of the country, along the Yemeni-Saudi border just one day before the 72-hour truce announced by the UN is to come into effect, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported yesterday.

Sources close to the Houthis said that the coalition’s fighters struck the neighbourhoods of Al-Baqa in the city of Sa’dah, the group’s stronghold.

The strikes coincided with armed clashes between Yemeni forces, which are supported by the coalition, and forces loyal to the Houthis and ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Meanwhile, the Houthis announced that the coalition carried out 16 airstrikes in Thaya neighbourhood and two others in Baqim, both are located in Sa’dah.

The planned UN truce is due to start tonight, according to the UN envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

In a statement issued yesterday, Cheikh Ahmed said that he had received reassurances that all Yemeni sides would commit to the truce.