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Scores of Yemenis Killed and Injured by Saudi-Led Air Strikes, Faction Attacks, Rise of Diphtheria in the Beleaguered Nation

February 22, 2018 

WHO Announces the Rise of Diphtheria’s Victims in Yemen, February 21, 2018	Saudi raid slaughters 15 civilians in Sa'da, northern Yemen, February 21, 2018

ICRC warns of destruction of the historic city of Zabid, February 21, 2018

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The following news stories are from the Yemeni independent website Al-Masdar ( http://www.almasdaronline.com/category/42  ):

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An air strike kill, wound Houthis southern al Hodeida

ALMASDARONLINE 2018-02-20

A security source said on Monday that an air raid launched by the Saudi-led Arab Coalition on Houthis  in al Tahita district, southern al Hodeida province, resulted in casualties. The source told Almasdaronline that the air strike targeted the Houthis vehicle on the Al-Mughars road near to Ali Ahmed Ahif farm in in al Tahita district. The raid resulted in the destruction of the military vehicle, as well as the killing and wounding of all who were aboard. The coalition's aircrafts and Apache have been conducting several raids on Houthis sites in the country's west coast for weeks.

A Houthi leader, his escort, and a third person killed in al Bayda

ALMASDARONLINE 2018-02-20

The leader of the Houthis group in Al Taffa district in al Bayda province, central Yemen, Abu Khaled Farhat was shot dead by a shop owner after being insulted by them. A tribal source told Almasdaronline that Farahat with his gunmen attacked the a shop, demanding its owner financial support by force for their war. But the owner shot at them, killing the leader and one of his escort immediately, but the other Houthi gunmen shot him dead. The situation is likely going worsen between the Houthis and the tribes in the area, as the Houthis insist on bombing the building of the dead owner and the tribes prevent them.

Emirati soldier killed, two injured by Houthi attack in al Hodeidah

ALMASDARONLINE 2018-02-19

An Emirati soldier was killed on Sunday and two others injured in confrontations against the Houthi militants while they were in an Emirati armored vehicle in Hays district southern al Hodeidah province, western Yemen, a military source told Almasderonline. The wounded soldiers were rescued by popular resistance elements which loyal to the government forces in the district, the source added.

The UAE had earlier announced the killing of one of its soldiers among its forces that participating in the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen. The death of Sergeant Ali Khalifa Hashil al Mesmari, a member of the forces participating in the Operation Restore Hope, the Emirati news agency quoted the General Command of the Armed Forces.  

Coalition raids kill three civilians in northeastern Sanaa

ALMASDARONLINE 2018-02-17

Three civilians were killed on Saturday by an air strike of the Saudi-led Arab coalition  aircrafts in the Nihm district northeastern Sana'a, eyewitnesses said. The eyewitnesses told Almasdaronline that the aircrafts targeted a car carrying civilians in al Aqran area, killing the three civilians on board, namely a groom, his father and uncle. The dead belong to Al Nakea and Al Ebaid families of al Hanashat tribe, and they were on their way to marry the groom.

On the one hand, the coalition aircrafts bombed an arms depot belonging to the Houthi militants in Jabal Shibam of Manakha district, west of Sanaa, resulting in a large explosion as the fire broke out at the site for several hours. Shibam mountain is one of the important mountains in western Sana'a, and was stationed in an artillery battalion and communications of the Republican Guard, and weapons and ammunition were stored in its caves, according to local sources.

It also overlooks the road connecting al Hodeida and Sana'a cities, and al Hayma neighborhood from the east. It also the intersection of the two Haraz and al Haymah districts of Sana'a province.  

Houthis casualties by Arab Coalition raids in Marib

ALMASDARONLINE 2018-02-17

The Saudi-led Arab coalition aircraft targeted on Friday evening a military vehicle belonging to the Houthi militants in Hailan mountain of Sirwah district western Marib province, eastern the capital Sana'a, a field source told the official government forces website, Septembernet. The air raids resulted in the destruction of the vehicle, as well as the killing and wounding of all Houthis gunmen were on it, without referring to a specific toll, the source added.

Arab Coalition starts 'Al Faisal Operation' against Al ‘Qaeda’ strongholds

ALMASDARONLINE 2018-02-17

The Saudi-led Arab Coalition forces in Yemen has started a sweeping operation to drive elements of ‘Al Qaeda’ from the entire Wadi Al Masini, Hadramaut, Emirates News Agency (WAM). The offensive codenamed "Al Faisal Operation" is going across three main axes in the area and is backed by massive carpet-bombing. The Arab Coalition Forces have earlier entered the valley, which is considered a major stronghold for Al Qaeda terrorists in Yemen, and ensured full control over its entry points.

In April 2016 the UAE launched a large-scale operation against Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations in Yemen and resulted in significantly curbing acts of terror in a number of Yemeni governorates and restoring essential infrastructure services across the Hadramaut Governorate, primarily the reoperation of Port Mukala which is an essential economic utility for Yemeni people.

Following that, the Red Crescent, immediately started its relief operations by distributing thousands of food baskets and medical supplies in Al Mukala City.

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The following news stories are from the pro-Houthi website Yemen Extra (http://www.yemenextra.net/):

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Saudi raid slaughters 15 civilians in Saada, northern Yemen

Feb 21, 2018, YemenExtra, M.A.

At least 15 civilians were killed on Wednesday after a raid conducted by the Saudi-led coalition hit Safra’a District, Saada Governorate.

The KSA/UAE warplanes targeted a number of taxis on Al Ammar road in Safra District, leaving at least 15 civilians killed, local source told YemenExtra.

Earlier, a civilian was wounded in a Saudi raid targeting nomads in Al-Abughabra region located in Kataf District.

This comes in the context of the crimes perpetrated by the Saudi-led coalition against Yemeni civilians amid an international silence. 

12 paid fighters shot dead in Marib

Feb 20, 2018, YemenExtra, Y.A

In response to the Saudi-led coalition’s fatal air strikes that claimed the lives of about 14,000 people,mostly civilians , the sniper unit of the Yemeni joint forces ,Monday, shot dead 12 of Saudi-led coalition’s paid fighters in Marib province, a military official told “YemenExtra” .

The paid fighters were shot dead in several areas of Serwah district. 

WHO Announces the Rise of Diphtheria’s Victims in Yemen

Feb 21, 2018, YemenExtra, SH.A.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that the death toll in Yemen has risen to 66 in the past few months.

According to a report, these cases were recorded in 20 out of 23 governorates and in 163 out of 333 districts, indicating that “1100 cases of the disease were recorded in those governorates”, without specifying the length of time.

The report pointed out that the governorates of Ibb and Hodeidah , are the most Yemeni governorates where the disease spread.

The diphtheria disease is transmitted through a bacterium known as the bronchodilator, mainly affecting the mouth, eyes, nose, and sometimes the skin. The incubation period extends from two to six days.

The outbreak coincides with the outbreak of the cholera epidemic since late April 2017, which resulted in the death of more than two thousand and 200 cases, and exceeded the cases of suspected disease threshold of one million, according to previous reports WHO.

Behind the ongoing attack on Yemen for nearly three years, the situation of humanitarian and health difficult, led to outbreaks of epidemics and the closure of a large number of health facilities in the country, which is one of the poorest countries in the world. 

ICRC warns of destruction of the historic city of Zabid

Feb 21, 2018, YemenExtra, SH.A.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Tuesday that fighting in western Yemen threatens the historic city of Zabid on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In a statement, the committee called for the protection of the city’s landmarks, which include the largest number of mosques in Yemen and respect for its landmarks.

“The destruction of cultural property in the city would mean a great loss to individuals, communities and humanity,” the committee said.

“There is no doubt that fighting poses a danger to civilians and the unique architectural character of Zabid and threatens the city’s cultural ties to one of the world’s major religions.”

Zabid, about 75 km southeast of the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, was the capital of Yemen between the 13th and 15th centuries and was once considered a center of Islamic sciences.

The city, which includes 86 mosques, including the fifth oldest mosque, is one of the most prominent landmarks in the beginning of Islam.

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