Saudi-led airstrikes target sprawling police camp in Yemen's capital

People stand around a crater made by a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. In a new report Wednesday, World Health Organization Chief Margaret Chan said that Yemen's conflict has left up to 2,000 people dead and 8,000 wounded, including hundreds of women and children. She did not specify how many of the dead were civilian. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

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People look at a car destroyed by Saudi-led airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. In a new report Wednesday, World Health Organization Chief Margaret Chan said that Yemen's conflict has left up to 2,000 people dead and 8,000 wounded, including hundreds of women and children. She did not specify how many of the dead were civilian. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

A medic treats an injured man from a recent Saudi-led airstrike, at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, May 27, 2015. Yemeni medical officials said over 10 people were killed when Saudi-led airstrikes fired missiles targeting a sprawling police commando camp in the capital of Sanaa. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

SANAA, Yemen – Dozens of Saudi-led airstrikes rocked Yemen's capital, hitting a sprawling police commando camp in Sanaa sending black smoke billowing into the air and causing panic among residents in the early hours of the morning.

The Wednesday airstrikes are part of a Saudi-led military operation that began March 26 and is targeting Shiite rebels known as Houthis along with army units loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The two are allied and occupy the capital and much of the north.

Eyewitnesses say the strikes targeted the camp, which occupies a large part of central Sanaa. Witnesses say planes also bombed a naval base in western Hodeida controlled by the Houthis.

The U.N. estimates that at least 1,037 civilians, including 130 women and 234 children, have been killed in the fighting.