Saudis respond to peace calls with heavy Sana'a bombing

Saudi Arabia has responded to calls for a ceasefire in its war on Yemen with a heavy bombing of the capital Sana'a with more than 30 airstrikes.

Yemen's al-Masirah TV said the airstrikes early Friday targeted al-Dulaimi Air Base in Sana'a and the surrounding areas as Saudi-backed troops launched new attacks further west in the country's main port city of Hudaydah.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Wednesday massed thousands of additional troops near the city which is a gateway to the capital, and the lifeline for imports and relief supplies into Yemen.

Witnesses in Hudaydah said fighting was heard in areas near the airport and the university, and Apache helicopters were spotted in the sky. Airstrikes were intensified on Thursday night on Houthi bases near the eastern entrance to the port city, they said. 

Yemeni armed forces and allied Houthi fighters responded to the attacks with a newly-unveiled Badr P-1 missile launched at an enemy assembly in the Saudi Najran province.

SS