SANAA (Sputnik) — The sources said Houthi-controlled Yemeni air defense troops have been forced to return fire to "repel" the jets carrying out airstrikes on Houthi positions in Sanaa.
#Yemen, who controls what pic.twitter.com/uNERCej7P4
— Luay لؤي الخطيب (@AL_Khatteeb) March 26, 2015
Local sources in Saada province told Sputnik the coalition is conducting strong airstrikes on the province, the Houthis' stronghold.
Houthi militias attacked Saudi positions in on the border with Yemen on Friday night, a source among Houthis in Saada told RIA Novosti.
Earlier on Friday, Al Jazeera reported that armed forces loyal to the deposed Yemeni president had captured parts of Houthi-held oil-producing province of Marib in central Yemen. A fierce fighting between pro-Hadi forces and Houthis in the province is under way, the news outlet said.
Shiite rebels hold up their weapons during a rally against Saudi air strikes in Sanaa, Yemen. http://t.co/nDKL8BBAhR pic.twitter.com/ujntwinspn
— David Furst (@DavidFurstNYT) March 26, 2015
"They carried out small attacks and returned, now they are under attack," — the source said.
A Saudi-led coalition of Arab states continued a military operation Thursday night against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen; the "Ansarullah" movement currently controls the majority of the country.
The coalition launched a second round of airstrikes on Houthi positions early Friday, including on the international airport in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, as well as a number of military bases and airfields. It left military infrastructure, equipment and aircraft destroyed, as well as civilians in shock.
Ousted President Abd Mansour Hadi had officially asked the UN Security Council to take action to "stop the Houthis' aggression," in accordance with Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. He also addressed the Arab League, urging them to send "Peninsula Shield" troops — Gulf states' military units — and to declare a no-fly zone over airspace controlled by the Houthis.
Meanwhile, any attempt to establish a national dialogue has failed, and parties to the conflict blame one another for the conflict.
