The United Nations called for a humanitarian truce in Yemen&#39;s&nbsp;province of Taiz after government forces captured a town from Iran-allied Houthi militia in heavy fighting that has spurred allegations of war crimes.

The fighting has complicated UN-sponsored peace talks, as envoys for the Houthis have delayed responding to UN&nbsp;proposals calling for Houthi pullouts from cities they control, including the capital Sanaa, and the creation of an inclusive government. 
 
James McGoldrick, the UN&nbsp;Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, voiced alarm at increasing bloodshed in the southwestern Taiz province, particularly the al-Sarari area, and the closure of Taiz city, the regional capital. 
 
He urged all warring parties to agree immediately to a &quot;humanitarian pause&quot; to protect civilians and cooperate with humanitarian agencies to help treat and evacuate war-wounded and deliver urgently needed medicine into the embattled zone. 
 
McGoldrick warned both parties that holding civilian populations hostage and depriving them of humanitarian assistance was illegal under international humanitarian law. 
 
Hadi supporters control most of Taiz, Yemen&#39;s third largest city with an estimated pre-war population of 300,000, but it is sealed off by Houthi forces on three sides. 
 
There were conflicting reports on the fighting in al-Sarari, a Houthi stronghold southeast of Taiz captured by troops loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi earlier this week. 
 
A Houthi envoy on a ceasefire committee assigned to oversee a shaky truce in Taiz wrote to the UN&nbsp;that Sarari residents had been subjected to &quot;war crimes&quot; including house burnings and the detention of 49 civilians including women and children. 
 
&quot;We call on you to swiftly intervene to stop these gangs and limit the massacres they have begun to commit against unarmed civilians,&quot; Ahmed al-Msawa said in the letter, seen by Reuters.

Two residents of a hamlet adjacent to Sarari said that at least 15 Houthi combatants were killed or wounded in the fighting. 
 
They said 40 other Houthis were taken prisoner but denied that any women or children were among them. They said most Sarari residents had fled to neighbouring communities. 
 
Hadi supporters have denied setting fires to houses and accused the Houthis of booby-trapping a Sarari mosque to try to kill as many Hadi supporters as possible. 
 
A Saudi-led alliance intervened in Yemen&#39;s conflict in March 2015 to try to restore Hadi to power after the Houthis seized Sanaa and advanced on his temporary headquarters in Aden, forcing him to flee to Saudi Arabia.

A ceasefire accord between the Houthis and Hadi loyalists has repeatedly been violated since it took effect in April. 
 
Peace talks in Kuwait since then have done little to end fighting that has killed more than 6,200 people and displaced more than 2.5 million in the Arabian Peninsula state. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The fighting between government forces and Houthi forces regarding the control of Taiz has spurred allegations of war crimes

The United Nations called for a humanitarian truce in Yemen's province of Taiz after government forces captured a town from Iran-allied Houthi militia in heavy fighting that has spurred allegations of war crimes. The fighting has complicated UN-sponsored peace talks, as envoys for the Houthis have delayed responding to UN proposals calling for Houthi pullouts from cities they control, including the capital Sanaa, and the creation of an inclusive government. James McGoldrick, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, voiced alarm at increasing bloodshed in the southwestern Taiz province, particularly the al-Sarari area, and the closure of Taiz city, the regional capital. He urged all warring parties to agree immediately to a "humanitarian pause" to protect civilians and cooperate with humanitarian agencies to help treat and evacuate war-wounded and deliver urgently needed medicine into the embattled zone. McGoldrick warned both parties that holding civilian populations hostage and depriving them of humanitarian assistance was illegal under international humanitarian law. Hadi supporters control most of Taiz, Yemen's third largest city with an estimated pre-war population of 300,000, but it is sealed off by Houthi forces on three sides. There were conflicting reports on the fighting in al-Sarari, a Houthi stronghold southeast of Taiz captured by troops loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi earlier this week. A Houthi envoy on a ceasefire committee assigned to oversee a shaky truce in Taiz wrote to the UN that Sarari residents had been subjected to "war crimes" including house burnings and the detention of 49 civilians including women and children. "We call on you to swiftly intervene to stop these gangs and limit the massacres they have begun to commit against unarmed civilians," Ahmed al-Msawa said in the letter, seen by Reuters. Two residents of a hamlet adjacent to Sarari said that at least 15 Houthi combatants were killed or wounded in the fighting. They said 40 other Houthis were taken prisoner but denied that any women or children were among them. They said most Sarari residents had fled to neighbouring communities. Hadi supporters have denied setting fires to houses and accused the Houthis of booby-trapping a Sarari mosque to try to kill as many Hadi supporters as possible. A Saudi-led alliance intervened in Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to try to restore Hadi to power after the Houthis seized Sanaa and advanced on his temporary headquarters in Aden, forcing him to flee to Saudi Arabia. A ceasefire accord between the Houthis and Hadi loyalists has repeatedly been violated since it took effect in April. Peace talks in Kuwait since then have done little to end fighting that has killed more than 6,200 people and displaced more than 2.5 million in the Arabian Peninsula state. (Reuters)

UN?calls?for?humanitarian?truce?in?Yemen's?Taiz province

A bomb killed four policemen today in the Yemenese city of Aden, where jihadists have repeatedly targeted security forces, a security official said.&nbsp;Another six officers were wounded in the blast in the southern port city where the Saudi-backed government has its base, the official told AFP. 
 
Despite a 16-month-old Saudi-led military intervention, the government has struggled to secure the city.&nbsp;On Friday, a suicide bombing claimed by al-Qaeda hit the convoy of Aden governor Aidarus al-Zubaidi, wounding three people travelling with him. 
 
The jihadists also claimed two suicide bombings on Monday that killed 11 people in two of their former strongholds in the southeast. 
 
Earlier this year, the Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive against al-Qaeda, helping to recapture the Hadramawt provincial capital of Mukalla in April after a year of jihadist rule.&nbsp;Coalition forces had previously focused their guns on Shiite rebels and their allies who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and centre, creating a power vacuum that the jihadists exploited. 
 
(AFP)

The attack comes two days after double suicide bombings killed 11 in two of their former strongholds in the southeast

A bomb killed four policemen today in the Yemenese city of Aden, where jihadists have repeatedly targeted security forces, a security official said. Another six officers were wounded in the blast in the southern port city where the Saudi-backed government has its base, the official told AFP. Despite a 16-month-old Saudi-led military intervention, the government has struggled to secure the city. On Friday, a suicide bombing claimed by al-Qaeda hit the convoy of Aden governor Aidarus al-Zubaidi, wounding three people travelling with him. The jihadists also claimed two suicide bombings on Monday that killed 11 people in two of their former strongholds in the southeast. Earlier this year, the Saudi-led coalition launched a major offensive against al-Qaeda, helping to recapture the Hadramawt provincial capital of Mukalla in April after a year of jihadist rule. Coalition forces had previously focused their guns on Shiite rebels and their allies who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north and centre, creating a power vacuum that the jihadists exploited. (AFP)

Al Qaeda bomb kills four policemen, injures six others in Yemen

Suicide bombers today attacked two army checkpoints in a former stronghold of al Qaeda in southeastern Yemen, killing five soldiers, an officer said. 
 
One bomber drove his vehicle into a checkpoint in the west of Mukalla while the second struck in the centre of the city, General Faraj Salemine told AFP, blaming the attack on &quot;terrorists&quot;. 
 
The capital of Hadramawt province, Mukalla had been under the control of al Qaeda for one year until pro-government troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition recaptured the city in April. 
 
Yemen has been gripped by a devastating conflict that escalated in March 2015 when Saudi-led air strikes began against Iran-backed Huthi rebels after the insurgents seized northern and central parts of the country including the capital, Sanaa.&nbsp; 
 
The violence has allowed extremist groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State group to extend their influence and launch scores of attacks on security forces. 
 
Last month, IS claimed a wave of suicide bombings targeting Yemeni troops in Mukalla that killed at least 42 people. 
 
The Pentagon said in May that a &quot;very small number&quot; of US military personnel had been deployed around Mukalla in support of pro-government forces. 
 
(AFP)

'One bomber drove his vehicle into a checkpoint in the west of Mukalla while the second struck in the centre of the city'

Suicide bombers today attacked two army checkpoints in a former stronghold of al Qaeda in southeastern Yemen, killing five soldiers, an officer said. One bomber drove his vehicle into a checkpoint in the west of Mukalla while the second struck in the centre of the city, General Faraj Salemine told AFP, blaming the attack on "terrorists". The capital of Hadramawt province, Mukalla had been under the control of al Qaeda for one year until pro-government troops backed by a Saudi-led coalition recaptured the city in April. Yemen has been gripped by a devastating conflict that escalated in March 2015 when Saudi-led air strikes began against Iran-backed Huthi rebels after the insurgents seized northern and central parts of the country including the capital, Sanaa. The violence has allowed extremist groups such as al Qaeda and the Islamic State group to extend their influence and launch scores of attacks on security forces. Last month, IS claimed a wave of suicide bombings targeting Yemeni troops in Mukalla that killed at least 42 people. The Pentagon said in May that a "very small number" of US military personnel had been deployed around Mukalla in support of pro-government forces. (AFP)

Suicide bombers kill 5 soldiers in Yemen?

At least six people were killed in a double car bomb attack Wednesday targetting a military base adjoining Aden international airport in southern Yemen, according to a military source who blamed jihadists. 
 
The attackers detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the base, allowing a second vehicle to drive inside where it exploded, the source told AFP, with at least six dead among the military in an updated toll. 
 
&quot;The attackers were jihadists,&quot; the source said. 
 
Clashes then broke out between troops and attackers in the base, which was sealed off by government forces sent as reinforcements, witnesses said. 
 
The attack came as Muslims celebrated the feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. 
 
The port city of Aden is under the control of government forces who are struggling to secure it more than a year after it was taken back from Shiite Huthi rebels who have seized control of large parts of the country. 
 
Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has exploited the power vacuum created by civil conflict in the impoverished country to expand its presence in the south and southeast. 
 
(AFP)

The first car exploded at the entrance of a military base, allowing a second vehicle inside which also exploded

At least six people were killed in a double car bomb attack Wednesday targetting a military base adjoining Aden international airport in southern Yemen, according to a military source who blamed jihadists. The attackers detonated a car bomb at the entrance to the base, allowing a second vehicle to drive inside where it exploded, the source told AFP, with at least six dead among the military in an updated toll. "The attackers were jihadists," the source said. Clashes then broke out between troops and attackers in the base, which was sealed off by government forces sent as reinforcements, witnesses said. The attack came as Muslims celebrated the feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. The port city of Aden is under the control of government forces who are struggling to secure it more than a year after it was taken back from Shiite Huthi rebels who have seized control of large parts of the country. Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has exploited the power vacuum created by civil conflict in the impoverished country to expand its presence in the south and southeast. (AFP)

Yemen: Double car bomb attack kills six near Aden airport

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported today. 
 
The missile was launched from Yemeni territory heading towards the city of Abha, the capital of southwestern Asir province, and was intercepted at 6:10 am (0310 GMT), SPA reported. 
 
Houthi forces in Yemen, in which Saudi Arabia has led a war against the Iran-backed group, have previously fired missiles towards Saudi Arabia. 
 
Saudi-owned Arabiya TV reported earlier today that a missile had been intercepted in the city of Khamees Mushait in the Kingdom&#39;s southwest. It did not identify from where the missile had been fired. 
 
(Reuters)

The missile was launched from Yemeni territory heading towards the city of Abha and was intercepted by the air force, SPA news said

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported today. The missile was launched from Yemeni territory heading towards the city of Abha, the capital of southwestern Asir province, and was intercepted at 6:10 am (0310 GMT), SPA reported. Houthi forces in Yemen, in which Saudi Arabia has led a war against the Iran-backed group, have previously fired missiles towards Saudi Arabia. Saudi-owned Arabiya TV reported earlier today that a missile had been intercepted in the city of Khamees Mushait in the Kingdom's southwest. It did not identify from where the missile had been fired. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia intercepts ballistic missile from Yemen

Two leading human rights groups urged UN member-states today to suspend Saudi Arabia from the UN Human Rights Council over the killing of civilians in Yemen and repression at home. 
 
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) said they would begin lobbying the UN General Assembly to hold a vote on suspending Saudi Arabia from the Geneva-based council, even though they admitted this was a long shot. 
 
&quot;Over the past few months, Saudi Arabia has gone beyond the pale and does not deserve anymore to sit on the Human Rights Council,&quot; said HRW deputy director Philippe Bolopion. 
 
Human Rights Watch accused Riyadh of targeting civilians in the war in Yemen, using cluster bombs banned by international conventions and laying siege to ports to prevent basic goods from reaching Yemen. 
 
The joint appeal again put the spotlight on Saudi Arabia, which has been leading an Arab coalition carrying out air strikes against Huthi rebels and their allies who seized much of Yemen. 
 
The coalition is supporting Yemen&#39;s President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in a war that the UN says has killed more than 6,400 people, about half of them civilians since March 2015. 
 
&quot;Saudi Arabia is in a league of its own,&quot; Bolopion told a news conference, adding that the kingdom is &quot;getting away with murder in a way that no other country has been able to do.&quot; 
 
The rights groups charged that Saudi Arabia had used its position as a council member to block an independent international investigation of war crimes in Yemen. 
 
Riyadh pressured UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to remove the coalition from a blacklist of child rights violators by threatening to withdraw funding to UN aid programs. 
 
Saudi Arabia has denied using pressure tactics and insists the coalition is not deliberately targeting civilians in Yemen. 
Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir dismissed the accusations as &quot;outrageous.&quot; 
 
&quot;The coalition is very cautious in selecting targets. We do not harm civilians,&quot; the minister told reporters in Paris.Amnesty International said the Saudi government had brutally cracked down on dissent at home and resorts to executions for offenses that under international law are not punishable by the death penalty. 
 
Since 2013, all prominent human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia have been either thrown into prison, threatened into silence or have fled the country, said Richard Bennett, Amnesty`s UN director. 
 
Saudi Arabia was elected by the assembly in 2013 to sit on the 47-member council and a two-thirds majority would be needed to remove it from the body, which the rights groups and UN diplomats admitted would be unlikely. 
 
Libya is the only country ever to suspended from the council by a vote held in 2011 to protest Moamer Kadhafi`s violent crackdown on protesters. 
 
The rights groups said Saudi Arabia had managed to get away with such violations because of support from the United States and Britain. 
 
HRW&#39;s director for the Middle East, Sarah Leah Whitson, said the United States and Britain had &quot;crossed the threshold to be part of this war&quot; in Yemen by supplying weapons and supporting operations. 
 
The rights group is asking the Pentagon to provide information on how it is supporting the coalition with the choice of targets, said Whitson. 
 
This form of military assistance would make the United States complicit in war crimes, she said. 
 
(AFP)

The groups accuse Riyadh of targeting civilians in the Yemen war & laying seige to the country's ports, blocking basic goods from getting in

Two leading human rights groups urged UN member-states today to suspend Saudi Arabia from the UN Human Rights Council over the killing of civilians in Yemen and repression at home. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) said they would begin lobbying the UN General Assembly to hold a vote on suspending Saudi Arabia from the Geneva-based council, even though they admitted this was a long shot. "Over the past few months, Saudi Arabia has gone beyond the pale and does not deserve anymore to sit on the Human Rights Council," said HRW deputy director Philippe Bolopion. Human Rights Watch accused Riyadh of targeting civilians in the war in Yemen, using cluster bombs banned by international conventions and laying siege to ports to prevent basic goods from reaching Yemen. The joint appeal again put the spotlight on Saudi Arabia, which has been leading an Arab coalition carrying out air strikes against Huthi rebels and their allies who seized much of Yemen. The coalition is supporting Yemen's President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in a war that the UN says has killed more than 6,400 people, about half of them civilians since March 2015. "Saudi Arabia is in a league of its own," Bolopion told a news conference, adding that the kingdom is "getting away with murder in a way that no other country has been able to do." The rights groups charged that Saudi Arabia had used its position as a council member to block an independent international investigation of war crimes in Yemen. Riyadh pressured UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to remove the coalition from a blacklist of child rights violators by threatening to withdraw funding to UN aid programs. Saudi Arabia has denied using pressure tactics and insists the coalition is not deliberately targeting civilians in Yemen. Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir dismissed the accusations as "outrageous." "The coalition is very cautious in selecting targets. We do not harm civilians," the minister told reporters in Paris.Amnesty International said the Saudi government had brutally cracked down on dissent at home and resorts to executions for offenses that under international law are not punishable by the death penalty. Since 2013, all prominent human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia have been either thrown into prison, threatened into silence or have fled the country, said Richard Bennett, Amnesty`s UN director. Saudi Arabia was elected by the assembly in 2013 to sit on the 47-member council and a two-thirds majority would be needed to remove it from the body, which the rights groups and UN diplomats admitted would be unlikely. Libya is the only country ever to suspended from the council by a vote held in 2011 to protest Moamer Kadhafi`s violent crackdown on protesters. The rights groups said Saudi Arabia had managed to get away with such violations because of support from the United States and Britain. HRW's director for the Middle East, Sarah Leah Whitson, said the United States and Britain had "crossed the threshold to be part of this war" in Yemen by supplying weapons and supporting operations. The rights group is asking the Pentagon to provide information on how it is supporting the coalition with the choice of targets, said Whitson. This form of military assistance would make the United States complicit in war crimes, she said. (AFP)

Amnesty, Human Rights Watch want Saudi Arabia off UN Human Rights Council

Saudi-led airstrikes killed at least seven people in Yemen on Sunday, residents said, as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew to Kuwait to try and galvanise peace talks on the conflict. 
 
The Houthi-run Saba news agency said five citizens were killed in two air strikes in Khawlan district, southeast of the capital Sanaa. 
 
Residents confirmed that five people died in the attack but did not say if they were civilians or armed members of the Houthis, a movement from the Zaydi branch of Shi&#39;ite Islam. 
 
Not targetting civillians: Saudi-led coalition&nbsp; 
Yemen is more than 15 months into a war involving a Saudi-led Arab coalition that intervened to prevent Iran-allied Houthis, who control the capital, from completing a takeover of the country and overthrowing the government. 
 
In southern Yemen, residents said two women died in an air strike on the home of a merchant in the Qubaita district, located between the Taiz and Lahej provinces. Another Yemeni died in Saada province by shelling from the Saudi side of the border, the Houthi-run al-Masirah television reported. 
 
There was no immediate comment from the coalition on the reports. The Saudi-led coalition says it does not target civilians in Yemen and has been observing a truce, acting only in response to Houthi violations. 
 
Ban urges delegations to avoid driving situation to a crisis&nbsp; 
Ban hopes to push the combatants to make concessions. In a speech to Yemeni negotiators from the Saudi-backed government on one side and the Houthis on the other, he said they must try to learn from the example of Colombian rebels and the government who signed a deal last week in Cuba after decades of war. 
 
&quot;The agreement last week demonstrated the perseverance of all those who work to end violent conflict not through the destruction of the adversary, but through the patient search for compromise,&quot; Ban said, according to a text received from the world body. 
 
&quot;I urge both delegations to avoid driving the situation to a crisis, and work responsibly and with flexibility for a comprehensive solution that would end the conflict,&quot; he added. 
 
The Yemen war has killed more than 6,400 people and caused a severe humanitarian crisis in a country that was already one of the poorest in the world. Yemen shares a long border with the world&#39;s top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia. 
 
Officials say the talks have been going in circles: The Houthis demand an agreement on the fate of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the formation of a broad government that would include them before any withdrawal from cities they seized. 
 
The Yemeni government insists that any new government would only be formed after the Houthis hand over their weapons and turn into a political party. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp; 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

The Yemen war has killed more than 6,400 people causing severe humanitarian crisis in a country that was already one of the poorest in world

Saudi-led airstrikes killed at least seven people in Yemen on Sunday, residents said, as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew to Kuwait to try and galvanise peace talks on the conflict. The Houthi-run Saba news agency said five citizens were killed in two air strikes in Khawlan district, southeast of the capital Sanaa. Residents confirmed that five people died in the attack but did not say if they were civilians or armed members of the Houthis, a movement from the Zaydi branch of Shi'ite Islam. Not targetting civillians: Saudi-led coalition Yemen is more than 15 months into a war involving a Saudi-led Arab coalition that intervened to prevent Iran-allied Houthis, who control the capital, from completing a takeover of the country and overthrowing the government. In southern Yemen, residents said two women died in an air strike on the home of a merchant in the Qubaita district, located between the Taiz and Lahej provinces. Another Yemeni died in Saada province by shelling from the Saudi side of the border, the Houthi-run al-Masirah television reported. There was no immediate comment from the coalition on the reports. The Saudi-led coalition says it does not target civilians in Yemen and has been observing a truce, acting only in response to Houthi violations. Ban urges delegations to avoid driving situation to a crisis Ban hopes to push the combatants to make concessions. In a speech to Yemeni negotiators from the Saudi-backed government on one side and the Houthis on the other, he said they must try to learn from the example of Colombian rebels and the government who signed a deal last week in Cuba after decades of war. "The agreement last week demonstrated the perseverance of all those who work to end violent conflict not through the destruction of the adversary, but through the patient search for compromise," Ban said, according to a text received from the world body. "I urge both delegations to avoid driving the situation to a crisis, and work responsibly and with flexibility for a comprehensive solution that would end the conflict," he added. The Yemen war has killed more than 6,400 people and caused a severe humanitarian crisis in a country that was already one of the poorest in the world. Yemen shares a long border with the world's top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia. Officials say the talks have been going in circles: The Houthis demand an agreement on the fate of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the formation of a broad government that would include them before any withdrawal from cities they seized. The Yemeni government insists that any new government would only be formed after the Houthis hand over their weapons and turn into a political party. (Reuters)

Seven killed in Saudi-led strikes in Yemen, UN chief pushes combatants to make concessions

Clashes in several areas across Yemen&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;killed 22 Shiite rebels and 11 members of pro-government forces, military officials said, after peace talks hit a new barrier. 
 
Fierce battles erupted in the northern Jawf province when Huthi rebels attacked loyalists in al-Motoon district, triggering a counter attack by government forces backed by warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition, a military official said. 
 
The fighting left 13 rebels dead, while eight loyalists were killed by mistake in an air strike that missed its target, the official added. 
 
Further south, three Huthi rebels were killed in clashes in Bayhan, Shabwa province, another military official said. 
 
And in the Southwestern flashpoint city of Taez, six rebels and three loyalists were killed in renewed fighting when insurgents attacked government troops on the outskirts of the city, a military official said. 
 
Clashes have continued despite a UN-brokered ceasefire that entered into effect on&nbsp;April 11&nbsp;and paved the way for peace talks in Kuwait. 
 
Those talks received a new blow&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;when government representatives demanded a full withdrawal of Iran-backed rebels from territory seized since 2014. 
 
On Wednesday, the rebel delegation said it would not sign up to any deal on military and security issues until there was agreement on a consensus president and a national unity government to oversee the transition. 
 
The peace roadmap put forward by UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed proposed the formation of a unity government in tandem with the withdrawal and disarmament of the rebels, although he acknowledged major differences between the two sides&#39; timetables. 
 
Despite a 15-month Saudi-led military intervention in support of the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, the rebels and their allies remain in control of swathes of territory they have overran since 2014, including the capital Sanaa. 
 
More than 6,400 people have been killed since the intervention began, the majority of them civilians, and there has been growing international pressure for an end to the conflict. 
 
(AFP)

Fighting between govt and rebel forces continues despite a UN-brokered ceasefire

Clashes in several areas across Yemen on Friday killed 22 Shiite rebels and 11 members of pro-government forces, military officials said, after peace talks hit a new barrier. Fierce battles erupted in the northern Jawf province when Huthi rebels attacked loyalists in al-Motoon district, triggering a counter attack by government forces backed by warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition, a military official said. The fighting left 13 rebels dead, while eight loyalists were killed by mistake in an air strike that missed its target, the official added. Further south, three Huthi rebels were killed in clashes in Bayhan, Shabwa province, another military official said. And in the Southwestern flashpoint city of Taez, six rebels and three loyalists were killed in renewed fighting when insurgents attacked government troops on the outskirts of the city, a military official said. Clashes have continued despite a UN-brokered ceasefire that entered into effect on April 11 and paved the way for peace talks in Kuwait. Those talks received a new blow on Thursday when government representatives demanded a full withdrawal of Iran-backed rebels from territory seized since 2014. On Wednesday, the rebel delegation said it would not sign up to any deal on military and security issues until there was agreement on a consensus president and a national unity government to oversee the transition. The peace roadmap put forward by UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed proposed the formation of a unity government in tandem with the withdrawal and disarmament of the rebels, although he acknowledged major differences between the two sides' timetables. Despite a 15-month Saudi-led military intervention in support of the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, the rebels and their allies remain in control of swathes of territory they have overran since 2014, including the capital Sanaa. More than 6,400 people have been killed since the intervention began, the majority of them civilians, and there has been growing international pressure for an end to the conflict. (AFP)

33 killed in renewed clashes across Yemen

Residents of a village in central Yemen said Iran-allied Houthi fighters shot dead seven farmers on Thursday while searching for the leader of a pro-government militia. 
 
Peace talks in Kuwait between Yemen&#39;s government and the Houthis to end a civil war have dragged on for two months with few concrete results. A truce that began on April 10 has dampened fighting, but skirmishes continue almost daily. 
 
Residents of the village of Nadara in Ibb province said the Houthis could not find the militia commander but blew up his house and killed seven men working in the fields. 
 
Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies intervened in Yemen&#39;s war in March 2015 on behalf of the internationally backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The conflict has killed at least 6,400 and caused a humanitarian crisis. 
 
The Houthis said the attack was a raid on a &quot;terrorist cell&quot; and that eight al-Qaeda fighters had been killed in the operation, according to the Houthi-run state news agency, Saba. 
 
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has exploited the war to seize a vast swath of the country, winning new recruits and enriching themselves from oil smuggling. 
 
There have been reports of al Qaeda militants joining pro-government and tribal fighters in battles against the Houthis in central Yemen. 
 
However, the Houthis also routinely characterise the militia forces opposed to them as al-Qaeda militants and accuse the Saudi-led coalition of abetting AQAP&#39;s expansion, something the alliance denies. 
 
The alliance members fear the Houthi movement is a proxy for their arch-rivals in Tehran, something the Houthis deny, and have launched thousands of air strikes in a bid to defeat them. 
 
United Nations Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Tuesday told the UN Security Council he would present a roadmap in the coming days to advance the.stalled process. 
 
(Reuters)

Houthis, however, said it was an attack on a 'terrorist cell' and eight al-Qaeda operatives were killed in the raid

Residents of a village in central Yemen said Iran-allied Houthi fighters shot dead seven farmers on Thursday while searching for the leader of a pro-government militia. Peace talks in Kuwait between Yemen's government and the Houthis to end a civil war have dragged on for two months with few concrete results. A truce that began on April 10 has dampened fighting, but skirmishes continue almost daily. Residents of the village of Nadara in Ibb province said the Houthis could not find the militia commander but blew up his house and killed seven men working in the fields. Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab allies intervened in Yemen's war in March 2015 on behalf of the internationally backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The conflict has killed at least 6,400 and caused a humanitarian crisis. The Houthis said the attack was a raid on a "terrorist cell" and that eight al-Qaeda fighters had been killed in the operation, according to the Houthi-run state news agency, Saba. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has exploited the war to seize a vast swath of the country, winning new recruits and enriching themselves from oil smuggling. There have been reports of al Qaeda militants joining pro-government and tribal fighters in battles against the Houthis in central Yemen. However, the Houthis also routinely characterise the militia forces opposed to them as al-Qaeda militants and accuse the Saudi-led coalition of abetting AQAP's expansion, something the alliance denies. The alliance members fear the Houthi movement is a proxy for their arch-rivals in Tehran, something the Houthis deny, and have launched thousands of air strikes in a bid to defeat them. United Nations Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on Tuesday told the UN Security Council he would present a roadmap in the coming days to advance the.stalled process. (Reuters)

Yemen's Houthis kill 7 farmers in search for pro-government fighter: Residents

<div style="text-align: justify;">US&nbsp;President Barack Obama will meet with Saudi Arabia&#39;s powerful deputy crown prince on Friday and the two are expected to discuss conflicts in the Middle East including the campaign against Islamic State, a White House spokesman said on Thursday. 
 
Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman, is on a visit to the United States aimed at restoring frayed relations with Washington and to promote a plan to slash the kingdom&#39;s dependence on oil revenues. Friday&#39;s meeting will take place at the White House. 
 
White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss issues including the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and &quot;our cooperation with the Saudis in the campaign against ISIL,&quot; as Islamic State is also known. 
 
U.S. officials have expressed unease about the Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which has resulted in large-scale civilian casualties, according to the United Nations and human rights groups. 
 
Reuters reported last week that the UN&nbsp;had removed the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen from a child rights blacklist after intense pressure by Riyadh. 
 
Prince Mohammed, whose influence in Saudi governing counsels appears to be growing rapidly, is being given wide access to Obama&#39;s administration. 
 
He will visit the White House on Thursday afternoon to meet with Obama&#39;s National Economic Council to discuss the plan the prince is championing to transform the Saudi economy by 2030. US&nbsp;treasury secretary Jack Lew and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will be present. 
 
&quot;A lot of our economic officials this afternoon will be meeting with him about how to move that programme forward and adopt best practices,&quot; Schultz said 
 
Prince Mohammed, who is also the Saudi defence minister, also is due to meet US&nbsp;defence secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon on Thursday. 
(Reuters)</div>

Deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman, is on a visit to the US aimed at restoring frayed relations with Washington

US President Barack Obama will meet with Saudi Arabia's powerful deputy crown prince on Friday and the two are expected to discuss conflicts in the Middle East including the campaign against Islamic State, a White House spokesman said on Thursday. Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the son of King Salman, is on a visit to the United States aimed at restoring frayed relations with Washington and to promote a plan to slash the kingdom's dependence on oil revenues. Friday's meeting will take place at the White House. White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the meeting would provide an opportunity to discuss issues including the conflicts in Syria and Yemen and "our cooperation with the Saudis in the campaign against ISIL," as Islamic State is also known. U.S. officials have expressed unease about the Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, which has resulted in large-scale civilian casualties, according to the United Nations and human rights groups. Reuters reported last week that the UN had removed the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen from a child rights blacklist after intense pressure by Riyadh. Prince Mohammed, whose influence in Saudi governing counsels appears to be growing rapidly, is being given wide access to Obama's administration. He will visit the White House on Thursday afternoon to meet with Obama's National Economic Council to discuss the plan the prince is championing to transform the Saudi economy by 2030. US treasury secretary Jack Lew and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will be present. "A lot of our economic officials this afternoon will be meeting with him about how to move that programme forward and adopt best practices," Schultz said Prince Mohammed, who is also the Saudi defence minister, also is due to meet US defence secretary Ash Carter at the Pentagon on Thursday. (Reuters)

Obama to meet Saudi deputy crown prince on Friday:  White House

&nbsp;Fourteen government soldiers were killed on Sunday in a push to retake a southern Yemeni city from the Iran-allied Houthi group in one of the deadliest days since a shaky ceasefire tentatively took hold last month, military officials said.

Yemen&#39;s exiled government has been fighting a war backed by Saudi-led air strikes and ground forces to win back the capital of Sanaa from the Houthis, whom it views as a proxy of Tehran.

Backed up by local tribes and militias, army forces attacked the city of Beihan in southeastern Shabwa province which sits on a main road leading to Sanaa some 100 km (62 miles) away.

Military and local officials said several fighters on the Houthi side were killed and injured in the battle adding that government forces were advancing deeper into the town.

The Shi&#39;ite Muslim Houthis, who took power in late 2014, deny they are puppets of Iran and say their armed fight is a revolution against corruption officials.

Home to Yemen&#39;s largest industrial project, a now-shut liquefied natural gas export facility at Belhaf, Shabwa is divided among Al-Qaeda, government troops loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Houthi forces and armed tribes.

Clashes have repeatedly broken out there between Houthi and pro-Hadi forces despite a ceasefire which began on April 10, which has mostly stopped fighting and buttressed weeks of inconclusive U.N.-backed peace talks in Kuwait.

Clashes between the Houthi group--the Shi'ite rebels-- and pro-Hadi forces broke out in an attempt to retake the southern Yemeni city from the former.

Fourteen government soldiers were killed on Sunday in a push to retake a southern Yemeni city from the Iran-allied Houthi group in one of the deadliest days since a shaky ceasefire tentatively took hold last month, military officials said. Yemen's exiled government has been fighting a war backed by Saudi-led air strikes and ground forces to win back the capital of Sanaa from the Houthis, whom it views as a proxy of Tehran. Backed up by local tribes and militias, army forces attacked the city of Beihan in southeastern Shabwa province which sits on a main road leading to Sanaa some 100 km (62 miles) away. Military and local officials said several fighters on the Houthi side were killed and injured in the battle adding that government forces were advancing deeper into the town. The Shi'ite Muslim Houthis, who took power in late 2014, deny they are puppets of Iran and say their armed fight is a revolution against corruption officials. Home to Yemen's largest industrial project, a now-shut liquefied natural gas export facility at Belhaf, Shabwa is divided among Al-Qaeda, government troops loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Houthi forces and armed tribes. Clashes have repeatedly broken out there between Houthi and pro-Hadi forces despite a ceasefire which began on April 10, which has mostly stopped fighting and buttressed weeks of inconclusive U.N.-backed peace talks in Kuwait.

Fourteen soldiers killed in Southern Yemen clashes

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