Loud blasts rock Sanaa as Houthis accuse Saudi forces of pounding Yemeni capital

Houthi rebels accused Saudi forces of launching 26 strikes on Sanaa on Saturday after loud explosions rocked the Yemeni capital, which is controlled by the Iran-backed group. In Saudi Arabia, flames and a large plume of smoke were seen rising from a facility belonging to oil giant Aramco south of the kingdom's capital, Riyadh.

The Houthi-held Yemeni capital Sanaa was bombed earlier this week for the first time since the start of renewed fighting with Saudi Arabia in July. © Mohammed Huwais, AFP

Yemen's Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of launching dozens of strikes on Sanaa on Saturday, while witnesses and an AFP journalist in Riyadh reported seeing flames and smoke coming from an oil facility on the outskirts of the Saudi capital.

Though Saudi officials and the Houthis have not yet commented on the refinery fire, the Iran-backed group has in recent weeks launched attacks on oil facilities in the kingdom as part of the war in Yemen where Riyadh backs the internationally recognised government.

The foes have traded strikes since the Houthis seized all of Yemen's Red Sea coast and took control of the Bab al-Mandab strait in a lightning offensive.

Houthi-affiliated channel Al-Masirah TV reported that "Saudi enemy aircraft" hit Sanaa with 26 strikes, after earlier reporting "Saudi aggression" against the Yemeni capital, without providing details on the targets or casualties.

本文の著作権はFrance 24にあります。