Saudi fighter jets keep pounding Yemen despite truce

Saudi warplanes have targeted a number of areas across Yemen for the third day since a UN-brokered ceasefire went into force.

Yemen's al-Masirah television network said Saudi jets bombarded the Dhubab district of Ta'izz Province as well as the Sirwah and Jebel Hilan districts of Ma'rib Province early on Wednesday.

According to the report, Saudi-backed militants also launched mortar attacks on the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, and in the province of Jawf.

Pro-Saudi forces further carried out missile attacks in the Yemeni provinces of Shabwah, Lahij and Dhale despite the truce that took effect at midnight (2100 GMT) on Sunday.

The truce was announced by the UN special envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as a step to calm the situation ahead of negotiations between the warring sides scheduled to be held in Kuwait on April 18.

The Ansarullah movement on Monday recorded 39 violations of the truce by the Saudis and their allies, including attacks in Ta’izz and the central province of Baida. They said Saudi warplanes also flew sorties over several areas of Yemen.

Saudi officials responded by describing the breaches as “minor,” accusing the Ansarullah movement of carrying out attacks on forces supporting Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Yemen’s resigned president who enjoys backing from Riyadh.

SS