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UN chief renews call for end to hostilities in Yemen

The coalition air strike destroyed a house and killed nine family members.

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Expressing concern over human rights violations in the Arab world’s poorest country, Yemen, UK campaigners and politicians have urged Prime Minister Theresa May to vote against Saudi Arabia retaining its chairmanship of Human Rights Council.

The United States considers AQAP to be al-Qaeda’s deadliest franchise and has conducted a drone war against the group in Yemen.

Congressional opposition to the arms sale came as the Saudi-led, US -backed military coalition broke an unsteady five-month ceasefire in Yemen last week and resumed bombing in the capital city of Sana’a – prompting immediate reports of civilian deaths.

Yemen has witnessed a conflict since 2014 between the government and Iranian-backed Houthi militants who abolished parliament early and forced the internationally recognised president out of the country.

A comparative lull in the fighting followed, but in late July 12 Saudi soldiers were killed by the serious fighting for months along the boundary.

The talks in Kuwait were suspended a few days later and the coalition resumed intense strikes on Sanaa and other rebel-held areas.

Rebel strikes additionally intensified.

The deal also comes in the midst of a controversial conflict in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia has killed thousands of innocent civilians with relentless airstrikes.

“This looks to be a long, continuing war”, said Anthony Cordesman of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

Saudi Arabia has faced continued criticism from rights groups over civilian casualties.

The 14-member coalition that was formed by Saudi Arabia – the Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) – announced that they started an investigation on the bombing of the Abs hospital after worldwide condemnation.

But analysts say withdrawing from such a complicated conflict is not easy.

“There are so many components and different factions involved”, Cordesman said.

Congressional candidate Matt Funiciello supports efforts to block a major arms sale to Saudi Arabia and says incumbent Elise Stefanik should do the same.

Following the battle, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of his position, said the Saudis have been “working really tough” towards an enduring peace and political transition in Yemen.

“That was (an) surprising move, for the Saudis particularly”, Muslimi said, including that Riyadh can not take the risk to the “legality” of Hadi’s authorities.

Adam Baron, a visiting fellow and Yemen specialist at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said Riyadh still feels it can handle the war “at least for the time being”.

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“Since peace talks failed, local forces seem to have made some gains” in the southwest, around Taez, and Nihm Baron said.

Yemeni security forces take part in a raid in Ja'awla a northern neighbourhood of the southern city of Aden