Saudi-led coalition targets Houthi rocket launcher

Fighter jets from the Saudi-led coalition targeted and destroyed a rocket launcher on Thursday positioned by the Shia Houthi militant group in the eastern Yemeni city of Marib, Anadolu has reported. The information centre of the National Yemeni Army said on Facebook that the “air strike hit the target.”

The mobile rocket launcher was used by the Houthis and factions supporting ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh to strike populated areas. According to the official statement, the militants positioned the launcher in an area located between Sanaa and Marib exploiting the truce. It added that the coalition aircraft also targeted two military vehicles at the same site.

Last night, it is claimed that the coup militias launched three rockets towards Marib but the defence system intercepted them and undermined an attack on “vital residential areas”. Anadolu said that there were no comments forthcoming from the coalition itself.

On Monday, the UN unveiled a plan for a 72-hour truce between Yemen’s warring parties, which came into effect at midnight on Wednesday. The UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said that he had received assurances from all parties that they would respect the terms of the truce. However, the Saudi-led coalition claims that the Houthis and Saleh’s militias have carried out more than 1,000 breaches of the ceasefire.