Coalition Efforts in Yemen Focused on Targeting 'Manpower' - Source

MANAMA (Sputnik) – The second operation launched by the Saudi-led international coalition against Shiite Houthis in Yemen includes only selective airstrikes, targeting the rebels' technology and manpower, an anonymous source in the Russian Embassy in Sanaa told RIA Novosti on Sunday.

"They used to bomb all the arms, food and fuel depots they had information on, as well as military camps, and now they are carrying out strikes only on 'manpower' and technology in areas of combat operations in the provinces of Aden, Lahij, Abyan, Taiz, Shabwah, Marib, Saada," the source said.

Yemen has been in a state of turmoil for months, since the Shiite Houthi militants took control of large areas in the country, including the capital Sanaa, forcing Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and his government to resign. In late March, Hadi asked the Arab League for military support, following which a Saudi Arabia-led coalition launched airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen.

On April 21, the Saudi-led coalition said it had completed the Decisive Storm military operation. On the same day, the coalition announced the start of its Restoring Hope campaign, saying it would focus on counter-terrorism operations, humanitarian missions, and the revival of political dialogue between Hadi supporters and Houthis, who are Yemen's main opposition force.

Despite the coalition's Tuesday announcement of an end to air raids in Yemen, airstrikes against rebel targets have reportedly been ongoing.

On Wednesday, an army commander loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh told RIA Novosti that the Decisive Storm operation had failed to undermine the strength of Houthi opposition forces.