Arab Coalition air forces destroyed on Friday a ballistic missile launchpad in Yemen, reported the pan-Arab television news channel Al-Arabiya. The launchpad was used and put together by Iran-allied militias in the war-torn country, and was in the Hajjah Governorate.
A military source stated that the coalition strike targeted the missile platform after it was spotted in a rural area between the Hiran administrative district and the northern border town of Hardh. The coalition launched a number of airstrikes in the area that led to the destruction of heavy weaponry and vehicles belonging to the Houthi militias killing and injuring an unspecified number of militants.
The source further stated that the platform was used to fire a ballistic missile to the Saudi territories earlier. He said that the coalition forces located the platform and targeted it despite efforts to conceal its position. The operation came at a time when the Yemenis welcomed the first day of Eid al-Adha holiday this year with untold grievances and suffering caused by the continued insurgency militias lead.
Iran-backed Houthi militiamen and armed loyalists backing ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh have led a national coup against the internationally backed and constitutionally elected government. In 2014, militiamen overran the capital Sana’a forcing the government headed by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to relocate to Aden.
Many Yemenis lived under militia bombardment as they exploit various weapons and stage infiltration attempts against national army positions in hopes of restoring positions lost in previous battles.
Over the past 48 hours, militia ranks suffered heavy casualties and material damage as a result of renewed confrontations on various fronts and raids by coalition fighters.
Putschist gunmen did not observe sanctity during Eid prayers and days, as they continued their crimes and violations against defenseless citizens by shelling mosques. Militias are responsible for the death of seven soldiers and wounding 11 others as a result of rocket shelling, said a field source. The bombardment took place in east of Sana’a, during the Eid prayer, another local source said.
On the other hand, Yemeni government has called on the international community and right groups to condemn Al Houthi crimes in the city of Taiz and mount more pressure on rebels to stop their deadly shelling of the densely city.
The government’s appeal comes hours after shells fired by Al Houthi fighters exploded in Beir Basha district in the city of Taiz, killing four civilians, including children, and injuring seven others.
Abdul Malek Al Mekhlafi, Yemen’s foreign minister, said on his official Twitter feed that the international community should criticise Al Houthi movement human right violations, mainly in the city of Taiz. “The Beir Basha massacre should expose all the other carnages committed by the militia in Taiz and other cities.” Al Mekhlafi said.
Residents told Gulf News that Al Houthis, stationed on the northern suburbs of the city, on Sunday night fired artillery barrage on residential areas in the western parts of the city which is under control of government forces. A shell or two landed inside a house killing four and injuring several others and caused great panic in Beir Basha.