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Saudi-led jets strike Yemen after missiles intercepted

Saudi-led coalition warplanes launched fresh air strikes on Shiite rebels across Yemen on Wednesday after the alliance said it had intercepted two ballistic missiles fired at southern Saudi Arabia.

The increased violence comes after UN-brokered peace talks in Kuwait between representatives of the government and Huthi insurgents ended without a breakthrough.

A statement from the coalition said it had carried out strikes against Huthi positions in Amran province, north of the capital Sanaa.

Tribal sources said air strikes hit rebel positions Wednesday around their northern stronghold province of Saada.

The coalition, which has fought on the side of Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi since March 2015, said in a statement it had intercepted two missiles fired from rebel-held territory aimed at two southern Saudi towns.

The rebel-controlled Saba news agency said one missile was launched towards a military base across the frontier, without providing further details.

Coalition air raids on the capital — the first for three months — on Tuesday hit a factory, killing 14 people, according to medics. Air strikes also temporarily closed Sanaa’s international airport.

The United Nations and Iran both condemned the increase in violence across the country.

Clashes also flared between coalition forces and the insurgents close to the Saudi border, military sources told AFP.

The UN says that more than 6,400 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Yemen since the coalition air campaign began in March 2015.

bur/mh/ras/pg/dr

© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

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