Hospital sources speak of 14 victims. For the director of the dead factory have 16, all workers, and 10 others were injured. It is the first air strike of the Arab coalition in three months and follows the suspension of peace talks. The UN negotiator continues the dialogue in view of new meetings.
Sana'a (AsiaNews / Agencies) - After three months of apparent truce, the fighters of the Saudi led Arab coalition have begun to bomb the capital of Yemen, yesterday killing 14 people and causing the forced closure of the airport. Coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assyri confirmed the new air strikes against Houthi rebels in Sana'a, after the suspension of peace talks sponsored by the United Nations.
Saudi fighters have hit a number of targets "around" to the capital. However, according to hospital officials the bombing caused the deaths of 14 civilians.
Inhabitants of the area under attack say the bombs did not hit militantstarget , but a food depot (in the photo) in the center of Sana'a. Abdullah al-Aqel, director of the depot, speaks of 16 dead and 10 wounded, adding that all those killed were workers.
The al-Aqel food company, dedicated to the production of potato chips, is close to a military maintenance center and was hit during normal working hours.
Commenting on the attack on the factory, Houthi spokesman Abdulsalam Mohammed speaks of "atrocious crimes" committed by the coalition. He also denounces further raids against rebel strongholds in Saada, Hajja and Ibb.
The attacks came less than 72 hours after the suspension of peace talks sponsored by the United Nations, which started three months ago in Kuwait. The negotiations have not had any effect, butUN negotiator Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed will not admit failure and intends to continue with the dialogue in view of new meetings.
The cease-fire declared last April 11 never really entered into force, with repeated accusations of ceasefire violations by both sides. General Assyri calims that the coalition respected the ceasefire for three months, but resumed operations because of the growing violence of the rebels and the failure of peace talks. In July, the Houthi leaders rejected a United Nations peace plan and announced the creation of a Governing Council, to strengthen control of Sana'a.
Since January 2015, Yemen has been the scene of a bloody civil war pitting the country’s Sunni leadership, backed by Saudi Arabia, against Shia Houthi rebels, close to Iran.
In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against the rebels in an attempt to free the capital For Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, who are allied to forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are militarily supported by Iran, a charge the latter angrily rejects.
Groups linked to al Qaeda and jihadist militias linked to the Islamic State group are active in the country, which adds to the spiral of violence and terror.