Saudi-led coalition airstrike 'kills 11' at Yemen wedding party

Saudi-led coalition airstrike 'kills 11' at Yemen wedding party
At least 11 people have been killed after Saudi-led coalition aircraft bombed a wedding in the rebel-held northern province of Saada, the Houthi-run SABA news agency reported on Tuesday.
2 min read
03 July, 2018
In 2015, Saudi-led coalition planes were accused of hitting a wedding hall in Mokha [Archive/Getty]

At least 11 people have been killed after Saudi-led coalition aircraft bombed a wedding in the rebel-held northern province of Saada, the Houthi-run SABA news agency reported on Tuesday.

The rebel-run agency said the air raid on the party took place the al-Dhaher district of Saada killing "mostly women and children" and injuring 11 others.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi rebels has yet to comment on the report.

In 2015, Saudi-led coalition planes were accused of hitting a wedding hall in the town of Mokha, killing 131 people. The alliance denied responsibility.

In October 2016, a coalition air strike at a Houthi funeral in Sanaa killed 140 people.

In April, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned airstrikes targeting a wedding celebration in Yemen and called for an investigation.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the war in neighbouring Yemen in March 2015 to push back the Houthis who continue to control the capital Sanaa.

Along with its air campaign, the Saudi-led coalition has imposed periodic blockades on Yemen's ports.

Both actions have killed around 10,000 people - most of them civilians - and have left more than 18 million in need of aid, according to the UN.