Saudis carry out 33 airstrikes on northern Yemen
According to a statement released by the fighters on Friday, Saudi warplanes carried out 33 airstrikes on the districts of Hinbah, Qatabir, Bani Maaz, Shada, Muhazat, al-Ammar and villages in close proximity of the regions bordering the oil-rich kingdom.
Saudi military aircraft dropped several bombs on homes in the conflict areas, resulting in the civilian casualties.
The statement added that Saudi forces had fired 120 rockets on the beleaguered areas of Shada, al-Malaheet, Qamamat and al-Madafin.
Meanwhile, Houthi fighters managed to stop Yemeni forces trying to infiltrate Jebel Dhar Hamar overnight and set a number of army vehicles ablaze.
Yemen's Houthi fighters say provided that they do not come under fire, the Shia forces will not attack the Saudi and Yemeni armies.
"As long as no one attacks us, we will not target any party," AFP quoted a statement posted online by the office of Shia leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
Last week, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi offered to accept the government's five-point truce terms in a bid "to avoid...the annihilation of civilians."
The fighters withdrew from at least 46 positions along the Saudi-Yemen border as a goodwill gesture to end the months-long clashes in the north.
Riyadh announced victory last week after the fighters' truce offer and their subsequent departure from the border towns, claiming the fighters had been forced out of the positions.
The Yemeni government launched an all-out war against Houthi fighters in August and was soon joined by the Saudi army.
The joint military action has taken a heavy toll on civilians in northern Yemen, drawing repeated warnings from human rights organizations about the humanitarian crisis there.
MP/HGH/MMN
Feb. 10, 2010