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World

Heavy Saudi-led airstrikes hit Yemen airports as kingdom ponders possible cease-fire for aid

Associated Press
Published | Updated

SANAA, Yemen – Heavy Saudi-led airstrikes targeted several airports Monday across Yemen even as the kingdom's foreign minister said officials were considering a cease-fire to allow aid into the Arab world's poorest country.

In the southern city of Aden, more than 150 airstrikes hit the city's airport, witnesses and security officials said. Houthi rebels and their allies are locked in fierce fighting there against forces loyal to exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Monday's airstrikes also hit airports in the city of Hodeida and the capital, Sanaa, witnesses and officials said. They said other airstrikes targeted Yemen's eastern province of Marib and the Houthi stronghold of Saada.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they weren't authorized to talk to journalists. Witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity over fear of reprisals.

Iranian-allied Houthi rebels, along with security personnel loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, have been targeted by Saudi-led airstrikes since late March. On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said coalition countries were considering a cease-fire to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

"Saudi Arabia is consulting with members of the alliance ... to find specific places to deliver humanitarian assistance, during which there will be a halt of all air operations, and in specific timings to help deliver the aid," the official Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying.

Al-Jubeir also warned Houthis against exploiting any possible halt of airstrikes, saying the kingdom will resume airstrikes over any "violations" impeding the humanitarian efforts.

More than 1,200 people have been killed in the Yemen conflict, many of those civilians, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said. Hadi's government in exile in Saudi Arabia says at least 1,000 civilians have died.

On Sunday, at least 20 troops from a Saudi-led Arab coalition came ashore in Aden on what military officials called a "reconnaissance" mission, the first ground landing by coalition forces. There have been recent calls by Yemeni officials in exile for a Saudi-led ground invasion to restore Hadi's government.