Violence flares up in war-wracked Yemen ahead of ceasefire

Published October 19th, 2016 - 03:00 GMT
The civilian deaths have drawn particular attention since a strike earlier this month that left more than 140 dead at a funeral ceremony. (AFP/File)
The civilian deaths have drawn particular attention since a strike earlier this month that left more than 140 dead at a funeral ceremony. (AFP/File)

Violence intensified in Yemen on Wednesday, hours before a temporary ceasefire is set to take effect in the war-wracked country.

A Saudi-led coalition bombarded a rebel military camp in the capital, Sana'a, local residents said.

Sounds of powerful explosions were heard following two airstrikes by alliance jets against the facility, in the eastern part of rebel-controlled Sana'a, they added.

No casualties were reported.

Elsewhere in Yemen, Houthi rebels and their allies shelled residential areas in the city of Taiz, some 275 kilometres south of Sana'a.

At least one civilian was killed and three others injured in the attack, local medical officials said.

A UN-brokered ceasefire is due to come into effect in Yemen at 11:59 pm (2059 GMT Wednesday), and last 72 hours.

The ceasefire is the latest in a series of truces - all of the previous ones have failed to hold - in Yemen since Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies started an air campaign in the country against Iran-allied rebels in March 2015.

At least 6,500 Yemenis had been killed between the launch of the Saudi military campaign and June 2016, with the majority of the civilian deaths caused by the Saudi-led airstrikes, according to the United Nations.

The civilian deaths have drawn particular attention since a strike earlier this month that left more than 140 dead at a funeral ceremony.

Saudi Arabia fears that Yemen's mostly Shia rebels will give its regional rival, Iran, a strategic foothold on the Arabian Peninsula.

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