Screencap of AFP footage showing plumes of smoke over Sanaa.
Strong explosions heard in Yemen capital: AFP
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Three loud explosions were heard in Sanaa late Thursday into Friday, accompanied by rising smoke, according to AFP, while the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency said Saudi Arabia had carried out strikes on Sanaa and other provinces amid renewed conflict in Yemen.
Saba reported, “Saudi aggression targets the capital Sanaa and the provinces of Saada, Taiz and Amran.”
These are the first airstrikes the Houthis have accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out on Sanaa since they accused Riyadh in July of bombing Sanaa airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing there.
Yemen has witnessed an escalation since July between the Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces.
The Houthis accuse Riyadh of bombing areas under their control in Yemen, while they have in turn targeted areas in Saudi Arabia with drones and missiles.
They have also announced a naval blockade on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.
On September 11, the Houthis completed their takeover of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following the withdrawal of government forces from several areas after a round of heavy fighting.
They subsequently tightened their control over Yemen’s western coastline.
