Fresh Saudi bombardment violates Yemen truce

Saudi Arabia's warplanes have conducted fresh airstrikes against Yemen, violating a 48-hour ceasefire which the kingdom announced earlier.

Yemen's al-Masirah television said Saudi jets bombarded a district in the southwestern province of Ta'izz several times.

Similar attacks were carried out in the Salif district of Hudaydah Province, the Maran neighborhood of Sa’ada Province and the Bani Hushaysh district of Sana’a Province, the report said.

Yemen's army forces also foiled an attempt by Saudi mercenaries to advance in the Baqa border region and killed dozens of them, it added.

The attacks came shortly after Saudi Arabia said it had decided to begin a 48-hour ceasefire from 12:00 noon in Yemen's timing (0900 GMT) on Saturday.

The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the naval and air "blockade", however, would remain in place and surveillance jets would continue to fly over Yemen.

The announcement followed a request for a ceasefire by Yemen's resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi -- himself based in Riyadh -- to Saudi King Salman, a Saudi statement said.

Brigadier General Sharaf Luqman, a spokesman for Yemeni forces, confirmed that they would abide by the ceasefire if the other side observes it.

"Based on the agreement reached in Muscat [on Monday], we affirm our commitment to the ceasefire if the other party respects it," Luqman said.

SS