Rebel fire kills 31civilians

Yemen conflict

AFP, ADEN: Rebel fire on a residential district of Yemen's second city Aden killed at least 31 civilians yesterday as loyalist forces in central city Taez launched a manhunt for 1,200 escaped prisoners.
Both cities have seen heavy fighting as loyalists of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi battle to fight back Huthi Shiite rebels with the support of a Saudi-led bombing campaign launched in March.
Aden was Hadi's last refuge before he fled into exile in neighbouring Saudi Arabia in March and his loyalists have been battling to defend it against the rebels and renegade troops.
The Huthis and their allies pounded the loyalist-held Al-Mansura district with 15 Katyusha rockets, loyalist forces spokesman Ali al-Ahmadi told AFP.
The rocket fire began before dawn when the streets were busy ahead of the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan, Ahmadi said. A fresh salvo of rockets later in the morning hit mourners burying some of the dead from the earlier fire, the spokesman and witnesses said. Medics said 41 people were also wounded, many of them seriously.
During the night, rebel positions in the nearby neighbourhoods of Dar Saad and Khor Maksar had been hit by a series of Saudi-led air strikes, residents said.

Rebel fire kills 31civilians

Yemen conflict

AFP, ADEN: Rebel fire on a residential district of Yemens second city Aden killed at least 31 civilians yesterday as loyalist forces in central city Taez launched a manhunt for 1,200 escaped prisoners. Both cities have seen heavy fighting as loyalists of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi battle to fight back Huthi Shiite rebels with the support of a Saudi-led bombing campaign launched in March. Aden was Hadis last refuge before he fled into exile in neighbouring Saudi Arabia in March and his loyalists have been battling to defend it against the rebels and renegade troops. The Huthis and their allies pounded the loyalist-held Al-Mansura district with 15 Katyusha rockets, loyalist forces spokesman Ali al-Ahmadi told AFP. The rocket fire began before dawn when the streets were busy ahead of the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan, Ahmadi said. A fresh salvo of rockets later in the morning hit mourners burying some of the dead from the earlier fire, the spokesman and witnesses said. Medics said 41 people were also wounded, many of them seriously. During the night, rebel positions in the nearby neighbourhoods of Dar Saad and Khor Maksar had been hit by a series of Saudi-led air strikes, residents said.