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Yemen crisis: Saudi-led coalition resumes air strikes as truce expires

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ANI London
Last Updated : May 18 2015 | 9:28 AM IST

The Saudi-led coalition has reportedly resumed air strikes against Yemen's Shia Houthi rebels soon after the expiry of a ceasefire, Yemeni military officials and witnesses said.

They added that strikes targeted rebel positions in the port city of Aden after a five-day-long humanitarian truce ended at 20:00 GMT, reported the BBC.

The news came after Yemeni political parties began negotiations in the Saudi capital city of Riyadh on how to end the crisis. The rebels however, stayed away from the talks.

The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, opened the meeting by calling on the warring sides to renew their commitment to the truce for five more days, at least.

He also asked them to refrain from any action that disturbed the peace of airports, main areas and the infrastructure of transport.

The Saudi-led coalition has targeted the Iran-backed Houthis and allied military units loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh in an air campaign since March.

The rebels forced current President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to first flee the capital Sanaa in February and later seek refuge in Saudi Arabia.

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First Published: May 18 2015 | 9:18 AM IST

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