Sanaa: Saudi-led coalition warplanes intensified airstrikes against Yemen`s Shia Houthi group in the capital Sanaa on Saturday.
The coalition forces made more than 20 sorties against Houthi targets at the Sanaa International Airport, adjacent al-Dailamy Airport, the headquarters of the air force base and the ammunition depots, security sources said.
Witnesses said they saw flames and explosions at the civil and military airports, as well as adjacent ammunition depots, which led to damage in residential neighbourhoods, Xinhua news agency reported. The missile base in southern Sanaa was also hit by the fighter jets.
Meanwhile, the forces of the Houthi group and ex-president Ali Abdullash Saleh continued fighting against pro-government tribal fighters in central and southern provinces.
Local residents said the fighting intensified in populated areas in Aden, Taiz, al-Bayda, al-Hodayda and Marib provinces. The pro-government fighters last week managed to recapture the southern province of al-Dhalee after two months.
Meanwhile, the Arab coalition bombed a village southeast of Sanaa which is the birthplace of ex-president Saleh.
Saleh said the Saudi ambassador in Yemen met him and conveyed the kingdom`s offer "to ally with fugitive President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Muslim Brotherhood against the Houthis".
"I told the Saudi ambassador it`s not a matter of buying and selling. I rather support national unity for all political parties in Yemen," he added.
"I did not expect that Saudi Arabia would launch a direct war against Yemen," he said.
Saleh was forced to step down in 2011 after mass protests against his 33-year rule turned violent. He and his key aides were granted immunity after he signed a power transfer deal that enabled his deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to win the presidential election in 2011 as the only candidate.
The ex-president was accused of sabotaging the transition process that followed and supporting the Houthi group to overthrow Hadi`s government.
In an interview, Saleh said Hadi who is currently taking refuge in Saudi Arabia would not be allowed to return to Yemen and denied Hadi`s legitimacy.
The Gulf countries tried to push comprehensive peace talks between all Yemeni parties since the Houthis seized control of the capital Sanaa in September 2014 that forced Hadi to move his administration to Yemen`s southern port city of Aden.
Saudi Arabia, along with eight other Arab states, have been bombing Houthis and forces loyal to Saleh since March 26, with the aim of reinstating Hadi`s government.
