Commander:

Saudi-Backed Forces Using Yemeni Civilians as Human Shield in Ma'rib

Rasa - A commander of popular forces in Yemen warned that the Saudi mercenaries are using the Yemeni civilians in Ma'rib province as human shield.

News ID: 424793

Date: 04 November 2016 - 18:02

RNA - "After heavy defeats in Ma'rib, the Saudi mercenaries that are part of the Riyadh-led coalition forces have stationed innocent civilians near their military bases to be used as human shields against the Yemeni army and popular committees' attacks," Ali al-Houthi told FNA on Friday.

Noting that the Yemeni forces have started operations to rescue the civilians, he said, "During the fierce clashes which continued until noon, 21 Saudi mercenaries were killed and tens of others were wounded."

He also said that 8 Yemeni army forces were killed in the clashes.

Saudi Arabia has been striking Yemen since March 2015 to restore power to fugitive president Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh. The Saudi-led aggression has so far killed at least 12,000 Yemenis, including hundreds of women and children.

Despite Riyadh's claims that it is bombing the positions of the Ansarullah fighters, Saudi bombers are flattening residential areas and civilian infrastructures.

According to several reports, the Saudi-led air campaign against Yemen has driven the impoverished country towards humanitarian disaster.

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