8 Yemeni pro-gov't soldiers killed in friendly fire by Saudi-led coalition: sources

Source: Xinhua| 2019-03-14 23:18:00|Editor: yan
Video PlayerClose

ADEN, Yemen, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-led Arab coalition mistakenly targeted pro-government forces in Yemen's northeastern province of al-Jawf in airstrikes on Thursday, killing about eight soldiers, local sources told Xinhua.

Sources from Yemen's Defense Ministry confirmed to Xinhua that "around eight soldiers were killed and nearly 22 others injured as a result of mistaken airstrikes."

The raids by Saudi-led fighter jets which bombed a site of pro-government forces in a mountainous area in Birt Anan district of al-Jawf, according to almasdaronline.com.

A local military source was quoted as saying that the targeted military site was recently seized by the pro-government forces after expelling the Houthi rebels just a few days ago.

The source added that "around 30 soldiers were killed and wounded by the Saudi-led aerial bombardment launched on Thursday afternoon."

The victims were affiliated to the 1st Border Guards Forces that started to engage in new armed confrontations with the Houthi rebels in al-Jawf Province.

No clarification has yet been made by the Saudi-led Arab coalition or Yemen's government forces.

Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that has intervened in Yemen's civil war since 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105521378952711