Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition kept up raids against Houthi Tribe Friday in support of Yemen's embattled president, who headed to an Arab summit to garner support as Iran warned the intervention was “dangerous”.
Powerful explosions rocked Sanaa soon after Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi criticised the intervention as “unjustified” and called for supporters to confront the “criminal oppressive aggression”.
At least 39 civilians have been killed in more than 24 hours of Saudi-led air strikes against Houthi Tribe in Yemen, health ministry officials said on Friday.
Eighteen of the victims were killed when a raid targeting a military base north of Sanaa hit surrounding residential areas, officials from the rebel-controlled ministry told AFP.
Speaking to reporters in the Saudi capital Thursday, spokesman Ahmed Assiri also said that there were no immediate plans to put boots on the ground.
Saudi Arabia launched the air campaign with pre-dawn strikes Thursday, saying it had assembled a coalition of more than 10 countries, including five Gulf monarchies.
The Saudi ambassador to the US, Adel al-Jubeir, said the coalition stood ready to do “whatever it takes” to protect Hadi's government.
On the eve of the Egypt summit, Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi also declared full support for the strikes following a “coup”.
But Iran reacted furiously, condemning the intervention as “a dangerous step” that violated “international responsibilities and national sovereignty”.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said it amounted to “military aggression” and “condemned all military intervention in the internal affairs of independent nations”.
Houthi Tribes' television Al-Massira said anti-aircraft defences were fired early Friday after warplanes hit new targets around the capital.
Witnesses said airstrikes targeted Al-Samaa military base north of Sanaa, and Al-Istiqlal camp, on the western edge of the capital.
Coalition raids late Thursday struck a rebel-held base in third city Taez, and the airport and an arms depot in the Houthis' northern stronghold.
Explosions had been heard earlier in Sanaa as warplanes pounded an air base adjacent to the international airport and other locations, an AFP correspondent reported.
Families streamed out of Sanaa seeking the relative safety of the provinces.
“I am leaving with my family. Sanaa is no longer safe,” said one resident, who gave his name only as Mohammed, as he piled his belongings into a minibus.
The official said the fatalities were caused by airstrikes that hit Thursday Al-Nasr and Bani Hawat areas, north of Sanaa.
In the south, a military source said the key Al-Anad air base, north of Aden, was hit again. The base was seized Wednesday by anti-government forces.
Saudi television said the kingdom had deployed 100 fighter jets to the operation, while the United Arab Emirates had committed 30, Kuwait 15 each and Qatar 10.
The airstrikes against Yemen have drawn condemnation from many countries, including Iran, Russia, Iraq, Syria as well as the Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah.
