JEDDAH: Saudi forces destroyed explosives-laden boats and launchedairstrikes in Yemen on Saturday after Huthi rebel drones and missiles hittargets around the country, setting off an inferno at an oil plant withinsight of Jeddah’s Formula One race.
Three people were killed in the operation against the booby-trapped boats,according to the Saudi-led coalition, which also carried out air raids onthe Yemeni cities of Sanaa and Hodeida overnight.
It marked a violent seventh anniversary of the coalition’s militaryintervention in Saudi Arabia’s impoverished neighbour Yemen after theHuthis had seized the capital Sanaa in 2014.
Thousands of people marched in Sanaa on Saturday to denounce a conflictthat has killed hundreds of thousands directly or indirectly, according tothe UN and left millions on the brink of famine.
However, there were signs of diplomacy as a senior Saudi official told AFPthe rebels had offered a ceasefire and peace talks in exchange for openingup Sanaa’s airport and the lifeline port of Hodeida.
“The Huthis put forward an initiative through mediators that includes atruce, opening the airport (Sanaa) and the port (Hodeida) and Yemeni-Yemenidiscussions,” said the official, on condition of anonymity.
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“We are waiting for it to be officially announced because they (Huthis) areconstantly changing their words,” he added. No immediate comment wasavailable from the rebels.
Four boats laden with explosives were destroyed at Salif, a Red Sea portnorth of Jeddah, a day after the Yemeni attacks on a televised F1 practiceday spooked drivers and threw the race into doubt.
“We targeted four booby-trapped boats in Salif port, which is underpreparation, and thwarted an imminent attack on oil tankers,” the coalitionsaid, according to state television. -APP/AFP
