- At least 60 people have been killed in an airstrike on a prison in Saana, Yemen.
- The attack came from Saudi Arabia as part of the coalition fighting Yemen’s ruling Houthi rebels.
Legend:
Drone footage of the destroyed prison in Saada after the Saudi airstrike.
Reuters | Masirah TV
The airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition was aimed at a prison in the capital Saana in northern Yemen. The Houthi government’s health minister, Taha Al-Motawakel, said at least 70 people died and dozens were seriously injured, according to the AP agency.
A representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said rescuers were still searching for victims in the destroyed prison and said more than 100 people were killed or injured. The aid organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF), citing local staff, reported at least 200 injuries requiring medical care.
Attacks from Saudi Arabia
A spokesman for the local health authority said 140 people were injured in the bombing in the capital Saana. There are numerous missing people, the victims are civilians, including many refugees.
There were also airstrikes on other areas in northern Yemen on Friday night. According to local media, there was a failure of the Internet connection.
Saana is not far from the border with Saudi Arabia and is under the control of the Houthi rebels, who rule large parts of Yemen. In 2014, they captured the capital Sanaa, among other things. Saudi Arabia sees the rebels as allies of archenemy Iran and is therefore fighting them.
Strikes against coalition members
The Houthi rebels repeatedly attack the neighboring kingdom of Saudi Arabia with rockets. Three people were killed in a Houthi drone strike against the Emirate of Abu Dhabi a few days ago.
In addition to drones, the rebels used cruise missiles and ballistic missiles that set fires at a fuel depot and an international airport, U.S. Ambassador Yousef Al-Otaiba said on Wednesday.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are part of the Saudi alliance. The coalition then bombed the Yemeni rebels earlier this week. At least twelve people were killed.