Iran condemns Saudi-led coalition bombing in Yemen's port city

The foreign ministry slammed the “regime in its attacks on the oppressed and defenceless people of Yemen" while denouncing “the indifference of the international community and continued sale of all kinds of arms to Saudi Arabia," foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said.

The Saudis "continue their endless violations" while "the meaningful silence of some Western countries on the massacre of innocent people will undoubtedly make them more hated in the eyes of the world and a partner in the child-killing regime's crimes," he added.

On Wednesday, at least 20 civilians were killed in Saudi-led coalition air raids on the rebel-controlled port city of Hodeida.

Women and children were among the dead, local sources told The New Arab, adding that coalition jets targeted the city's rebel-controlled presidential palace as well as nearby residential neighbourhoods.

Coalition airstrikes hit the Suq al-Hunod district of the Red Sea port, an anonymous official in the government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi told AFP. 

The official said the residential areas were "probably hit in error."

However coalition spokesman General Ahmed Assiri, a key ally of Yemen’s government, said rebel leaders had been the target of the air raids.

Despite Yemen’s confirmation of civilian deaths, Assiri said the alliance had no information on casualties because it is not present on the ground there.

Iran strongly opposes the Saudi-led military campaign against its Houthi allies in Yemen and has adamantly denied claims it is arming the rebel group.