Fresh Saudi Airstrikes in Yemen Before New Phase of Operation

Tue Apr 21, 2015 10:42PM
presstv.ir

Casualties have been reported as Saudi Arabia carries out raids on multiple targets in Yemen after declaring an end to airstrikes.

Saudi airstrikes on the Esteghbal military base in the capital city Sana’a and targets in the northern Sa'ada province have claimed the lives of a number of people, the al-Masirah  satellite television station reported early on Wednesday.

The raids were carried out before 12:00 a.m. Wednesday Saudi local time (2100 GMT), when a new phase of operation dubbed "Restoring Hope" was due to start.

Also on Wednesday, Fugitive former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi gave a televised speech in Saudi Arabia in relation to Riyadh’s declaration of ending operation “Decisive Storm” in Yemen.

During his speech, Hadi called on the Ansarullah movement's Houthi fighters to hand in their weapons and carry on with peace talks, and vowed to build a fresh completely national army.

He also called on the international community to send humanitarian aid to the impoverished company and help with the reconstruction process there.

Saudi Arabia started its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 -- without a UN mandate -- in a bid to restore power to Hadi, who is a close ally of Riyadh.According to reports, about 2,800 people have been killed during the aggression.