According to AP and Reuters, pre-dawn Saudi-led airstrikes on a Yemen armed forces headquaters in Sanaa killed at least 22 people and caused heavy damage to the facility.
Security officials said that several nearby homes were also damaged in the blasts. The death toll given by security officials was 22, but Houthi leaders put the figure at 45, mostly soldiers. Residents said the headquarters, located near the city centre, was hit by at least three strikes, damaging homes and shaking the entire city.
The strikes come a day after a Scud missile was fired from Yemen into Saudi Arabia, marking a drastic escalation in the conflict which was been on-going since Saudi-led airstrikes began on March 26. The Yemeni military was believed to be in possession of 300 Scud missiles, most of which fell into the hands of rebel militants, AP reported.
The exiled Yemeni government and Houthi leaders have agreed on peace talks that will begin on June 14 in Geneva.
