File Photo: Rebels hold up their weapons in Yemen's capital Sanaa (Reuters)
Sanaa:
An Iranian ship convoy suspected of carrying weapons for Shiite rebels in Yemen has turned back, US officials said, as Saudi-led warplanes kept up air strikes on the anti-government forces.
The conflict has sent tensions soaring between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels, raising fears Yemen could become a new front in a proxy war between Middle East powers.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin yesterday accused Tehran of trying to break a naval blockade on his country, describing the war as an "Iranian plot implemented by the Huthi militia".
A US official said yesterday the nine-ship Iranian convoy that had been heading for Yemen is "no longer on the same course".
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and other American warships have deployed off Yemen's coast to track the Iranian flotilla and possibly prevent any arms deliveries to the Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels.
The flotilla included two "armed vessels," said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It was possible the Iranians "could make a turn to Yemen at any time," the official added.
Iran is a key ally of the Huthis but vehemently denies arming them. It has presented a peace plan to the UN calling for a ceasefire and the formation of a unity government.
With international pressure mounting for a political solution, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced plans to appoint Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as his new envoy to Yemen.
He replaces Morocco's Jamal Benomar, who resigned last week after losing support for his mediation efforts from oil-rich Gulf countries.
The Huthis swept into the capital in September from their northern stronghold, and later advanced south on the major port of Aden, forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to Riyadh last month.
The UN Security Council has imposed an arms embargo on the Huthis.
Children living in fear
More than 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting since late March, according to the UN, which said Friday at least 115 children were among the dead.
"We believe that these are conservative figures," UN children's agency spokesman Christophe Boulierac told reporters in Geneva, saying at least 64 of the dead children were victims of air strikes.
The UN agency said 26 children had been killed by unexploded ordnance and mines, 19 by gunshots and three by shelling.
Another 172 children had been maimed in the violence.
"There are hundreds of thousands of children in Yemen who continue to live in the most dangerous circumstances, many waking up scared in the middle of the night to the sounds of bombing and gunfire," UNICEF representative in Yemen Julien Harneis said in a statement.
The Saudi-led military coalition on Tuesday declared the first phase of its operations against the Huthis and their allies was over, but there has been no end to its air strikes.
The rebels have demanded a complete halt to the raids as a condition for UN-sponsored peace talks.
Coalition warplanes hit a camp housing rebel troops in Yemen's third city Taez today, after a night of clashes and raids throughout the country, residents said.
Army units which remained loyal to strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh after his ouster in 2012 following a bloody year-long uprising have provided crucial support to the Huthis.
The main southern city of Aden also came under coalition fire as clashes between Hadi supporters and rebels raged until dawn, pro-government militiamen said.
Residents in the eastern province of Marib also reported overnight air strikes and clashes between local tribesmen and rebel forces.
Prince sparks controversy
The Saudi-led alliance says it has destroyed the Huthis' missile and air capabilities, removing the threat to neighbouring countries.
But the capital remains in rebel hands while Al-Qaeda has exploited the instability to seize more territory in the largely lawless southeast.
The UN says millions have been affected by the conflict and are struggling to access healthcare, water, food and fuel.
"The toll on civilians has been immense," UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Johannes Van Der Klaauw said.
The UN's human rights agency said today at least 551 of the people killed were civilians.
A billionaire Saudi prince purportedly deleted a controversial tweet in which he offered 100 luxury Bentley cars to air force pilots who took part in the bombing.
The message sparked criticism from other Twitter users, with some accusing Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of being a "show off" and another saying a gift of 100 warplanes "would have been more patriotic".
No pilots have died during the air campaign but eight Saudi security personnel were killed in armed skirmishes along the border with Yemen.
The conflict has sent tensions soaring between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, which backs the Huthi rebels, raising fears Yemen could become a new front in a proxy war between Middle East powers.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Riyadh Yassin yesterday accused Tehran of trying to break a naval blockade on his country, describing the war as an "Iranian plot implemented by the Huthi militia".
A US official said yesterday the nine-ship Iranian convoy that had been heading for Yemen is "no longer on the same course".
The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and other American warships have deployed off Yemen's coast to track the Iranian flotilla and possibly prevent any arms deliveries to the Iran-backed Huthi Shiite rebels.
The flotilla included two "armed vessels," said the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
It was possible the Iranians "could make a turn to Yemen at any time," the official added.
Iran is a key ally of the Huthis but vehemently denies arming them. It has presented a peace plan to the UN calling for a ceasefire and the formation of a unity government.
With international pressure mounting for a political solution, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced plans to appoint Mauritanian diplomat Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as his new envoy to Yemen.
He replaces Morocco's Jamal Benomar, who resigned last week after losing support for his mediation efforts from oil-rich Gulf countries.
The Huthis swept into the capital in September from their northern stronghold, and later advanced south on the major port of Aden, forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to Riyadh last month.
The UN Security Council has imposed an arms embargo on the Huthis.
Children living in fear
More than 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting since late March, according to the UN, which said Friday at least 115 children were among the dead.
"We believe that these are conservative figures," UN children's agency spokesman Christophe Boulierac told reporters in Geneva, saying at least 64 of the dead children were victims of air strikes.
The UN agency said 26 children had been killed by unexploded ordnance and mines, 19 by gunshots and three by shelling.
Another 172 children had been maimed in the violence.
"There are hundreds of thousands of children in Yemen who continue to live in the most dangerous circumstances, many waking up scared in the middle of the night to the sounds of bombing and gunfire," UNICEF representative in Yemen Julien Harneis said in a statement.
The Saudi-led military coalition on Tuesday declared the first phase of its operations against the Huthis and their allies was over, but there has been no end to its air strikes.
The rebels have demanded a complete halt to the raids as a condition for UN-sponsored peace talks.
Coalition warplanes hit a camp housing rebel troops in Yemen's third city Taez today, after a night of clashes and raids throughout the country, residents said.
Army units which remained loyal to strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh after his ouster in 2012 following a bloody year-long uprising have provided crucial support to the Huthis.
The main southern city of Aden also came under coalition fire as clashes between Hadi supporters and rebels raged until dawn, pro-government militiamen said.
Residents in the eastern province of Marib also reported overnight air strikes and clashes between local tribesmen and rebel forces.
Prince sparks controversy
The Saudi-led alliance says it has destroyed the Huthis' missile and air capabilities, removing the threat to neighbouring countries.
But the capital remains in rebel hands while Al-Qaeda has exploited the instability to seize more territory in the largely lawless southeast.
The UN says millions have been affected by the conflict and are struggling to access healthcare, water, food and fuel.
"The toll on civilians has been immense," UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Johannes Van Der Klaauw said.
The UN's human rights agency said today at least 551 of the people killed were civilians.
A billionaire Saudi prince purportedly deleted a controversial tweet in which he offered 100 luxury Bentley cars to air force pilots who took part in the bombing.
The message sparked criticism from other Twitter users, with some accusing Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of being a "show off" and another saying a gift of 100 warplanes "would have been more patriotic".
No pilots have died during the air campaign but eight Saudi security personnel were killed in armed skirmishes along the border with Yemen.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
