Air strike on missile base in Yemeni capital kills 15

Sanaa, April 20

An air strike on a Scud missile base in the Houthi rebel controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa triggered a big explosion that blew out windows in homes, killing at least 15 persons and wounding dozens on Monday, medical sources said.

Saudi Arabia has led an alliance of Sunni Arab countries in air strikes against the Iran-allied Shia Houthi group and army units loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Yemen's state news agency Saba, run by the Houthi movement, said the bombing resulted in "dozens of martyrs and hundreds of wounded", citing a city official. The reference to "dozens martyred" might suggest that a larger number of soldiers at the base had been killed.

The blast hit the base on Faj Attan mountain beside the Hadda district, home to the presidential palace and many embassies, and sent a tall mushroom cloud into the air.

Resident Adel Mansour said it was the largest explosion in more than three weeks of bombing by the Saudi-led coalition.

The campaign has repeatedly targeted the Faj Attan facility along with other military bases and airports in Sanaa and throughout the country. — Reuters