Suspected Saudi led air raid kills civilians in Yemen by mistake
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A suspected raid by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen killed more than 20 civilians Wednesday, the latest in a spate of deadly strikes by the alliance that have drawn condemnation.
Saba news agency, which is controlled by the Iran-backed rebels, said a vehicle carrying civilians in the town of Mawzaa, southwest of third city Taez, was hit in the raid.
It said 23 civilians, including six children and women, were killed in a suspected raid by the Arab coalition led by regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and that six bodies were burned beyond recognition.
A military source with loyalist forces confirmed the strike, saying 20 civilians had died in what appeared to have been the result of a "mistake".
The air raid targeted an area held by the Huthi rebels, said the source who confirmed that a vehicle had been struck.
The passengers were heading back to Mawzaa after a shopping trip to the nearby town of Barah, the military source said, adding several bodies had been torn to pieces.
There was no immediate reaction from the Saudi-led coalition, which has been battling the Huthis opposed to the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
The raid comes days before US President Donald Trump is to arrive Saturday in Saudi Arabia on his first foreign trip since taking office in January.
Washington provides intelligence as well as aerial refuelling to coalition warplanes conducting air strikes in Yemen with American-supplied weapons.
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis warned during an April visit to Saudi Arabia of Iranian efforts to create a Yemeni militia "in the image" of Lebanon's powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah.
Mattis stressed the need to overcome Iran's efforts "in destabilising yet another country and create another militia in the image" of Lebanon's Hezbollah, which is fighting alongside government forces in Syria.
He said it was in Washington's "interest to see a strong Saudi Arabia", adding however that the United States wanted a return as "quickly as possible" to UN-backed Yemen peace talks.
