Saudi coalition airstrikes kill, injure dozens in north Yemen

Saudi coalition airstrikes kill, injure dozens in north Yemen
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the leading members of a coalition that has been at war with Houthi rebels since March 2015.
2 min read
12 March, 2019
The conflict has killed at least 10,000 people. [Getty]

Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition have killed at least 22 civilians, including women and children, in northern Yemen over the past two days, the United Nations said on Monday.

Reports from the Hajjah province indicate that more 30 civilians have also been injured in the airstrikes, with at least 10 women and 12 children were killed.

"We condemn these deaths and injuries unequivocally and we share our deep condolences with the families of the victims," said UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Lise Grande.

"It is outrageous that innocent civilians continue to die needlessly in a conflict that should, and can be solved".

Some areas of Hajjah province are controlled by government forces, while others such as Kushar district which was hit by the strikes are in the hands of the Houthi rebels.

Houthi official Deifallah al-Shami accused the coalition of "deliberately committing... this massacre," in a statement carried by the rebels' Saba news agency.

The Saudi-led coalition did not immediately respond to requests by AFP to comment on the strikes.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the leading members of a coalition that has been at war with Houthi rebels since March 2015.

The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people and caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

However human rights groups believe the real death toll could be five times as high. Widespread famine and outbreaks of deadly diseases such as cholera, exacerbated by a de-facto Saudi blockade on Yemen's ports, are endangering the lives of more civilians.

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