Saudi-led warships shell Houthi positions in Yemen

Source: Xinhua| 2017-07-09 19:59:58|Editor: Liangyu
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ADEN, Yemen, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Warships of the Saudi-led Arab coalition launched an intensified bombing on a number of positions held by fighters of the Shiite Houthi group in war-torn Yemeni province of Taiz on Sunday, a military official told Xinhua.

According to the military source, "the Saudi-led warships based near the Mocha seaport bombed several positions held by Houthi fighters in Hamli and Khaled Bin-Walid military bases in the western part of Taiz province."

Arms depots and military vehicles belonging to the Houthi militias were completely destroyed in the Saudi-led bombing in Taiz's western area, the source said.

Medical sources in the area confirmed to Xinhua that the shelling that targeted the Houthi-controlled sites resulted in killing 15 Houthi gunmen and injuring more than 20 others.

Airstrikes launched by fighter jets of the Saudi-led Arab coalition targeted on Sunday military positions used for firing missiles by Houthis in Taiz.

Meanwhile, intense fighting continued between the Saudi-backed government forces and the Shiite Houthi fighters in different northern provinces, causing casualties from both warring sides.

Taiz province has for long been under total blockade and witnessed indiscriminate shelling by the Shiite Houthis who control most parts of Taiz province.

Yemen has been suffering from a civil war and a Saudi-led military intervention for around two years.

The civil war began after the Houthi militants with support from forces loyal to the former president ousted the UN-backed transitional government and occupied capital Sanaa militarily in September 2014.

The legitimate government controls the south and some eastern parts, while the Houthi /Saleh alliance controls the other parts including the capital Sanaa.

The UN has sponsored peace talks between the warring factions several times, but the factions failed to reach common ground.

The civil war, ground battles and airstrikes have already killed more than 10,000 people, half of them civilians, injured more than 35,000 others and displaced over two millions, according to humanitarian agencies.

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