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Officials: Saudi-led airstrikes kill 7 civilians in Yemeni capital, residents flee homes

Associated Press
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An explosion and smoke rise after an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition at a weapons depot in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of mainly Gulf nations fighting the Houthis, who seized the capital, Sanaa, last September. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

An explosion and smoke rise after an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition at a weapons depot in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of mainly Gulf nations fighting the Houthis, who seized the capital, Sanaa, last September. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

An explosion and smoke rise after an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition at a weapons depot in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of mainly Gulf nations fighting the Houthis, who seized the capital, Sanaa, last September. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

Yemeni independent security and health officials say seven civilians have been killed in the latest airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition in the capital, Sanaa. The bombardment targeted Shiite rebels known as Houthis.

The officials say the death toll includes those killed on Friday and Thursday. The airstrikes targeted camps and weapons depots used by the rebels near the city's residential areas. Many residents have fled their homes for safer neighborhoods, away from rebel posts.

Yemen's conflict pits the Houthis and their allies from among former President Ali Abdullah Saleh forces against exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's troops, as well as southern separatists, local militias and Sunni extremists.

The Saudi-led coalition's airstrikes began in March.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they aren't authorized to talk to journalists.