On Tuesday Amnesty global released their own report calling for a UN-commissioned investigation into the war crimes committed by all parties in the conflict in Yemen, blaming the warring sides for “blatantly” failing to take “necessary precautions to minimize civilian casualties.” Forces loyal to Hadi claim to have driven the Houthis out of much of the country’s south; the rebels say they staged a strategic retreat.
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The Saudi-led air raids targeted the Sala area of Taiz, where the Houthi group that dominates northern Yemen has a strong presence.
Since pro-government forces recaptured the city from Shiite Huthi rebels last month, several planes carrying humanitarian aid have landed at Aden’s repaired worldwide airport, which had been the scene of heavy clashes. Of those killed, at least 10 were children, they added, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.
Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen’s central city of Taiz late on Thursday killed 43 people and wounded 50 others, according to a report by the Saba news agency which is controlled by the Houthi movement targeted by Riyadh.
“Those who survived the bombings are searching through the rubble with their bare hands in the hope of finding survivors, as well as the bodies of victims of the attack”, Salah Dongu’du, Medicins Sans Frontieres project coordinator in Taiz, said in a statement.
Taiz is Yemen’s third largest city, after the capital of Sanaa and the southern port of Aden. Many people had sought refuge there in previous days after fleeing form more risky parts of the city, he said.
Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, said the strikes on Hodeida were directed not at the civilian port but at a base where the Houthis had deployed anti-ship weapons. The barrages destroyed a power plant in the city.
In a statement, the Joint Forces Command said that the two pilots were killed when their Apache helicopter crashed, while attacking Houthi rebels on the southern boundary of Jazan.
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The Saudi-led alliance began its air strikes in late March as the Shi’ite Houthis entered Aden.
