This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-33033842
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Yemen crisis: Saudi Arabia 'shoots down' Scud missile | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Saudi Arabia has shot down a Scud missile fired from across the border by Yemen's Houthi rebels and its allies, the state Saudi Press Agency says. | |
It was intercepted by a Patriot missile battery near the south-western city of Khamis Mushait in the morning. | |
On Friday, four Saudi soldiers and many Yemeni rebels died in fighting on the border, the Saudi-led coalition says. | |
It says forces loyal to Yemen's former president, backed by the Houthis, attacked several Saudi positions. | |
In a separate development, the Houthis have agreed to attend peace talks in Geneva. | |
The UN-brokered meeting on 14 June in Switzerland is aimed at ending weeks of war that has claimed more than 2,000 lives. | |
"We accepted the invitation of the United Nations to go to the negotiating table in Geneva without preconditions," Daifallah al-Shami, a senior member of the rebels' political wing told AFP. | "We accepted the invitation of the United Nations to go to the negotiating table in Geneva without preconditions," Daifallah al-Shami, a senior member of the rebels' political wing told AFP. |
Yemen's government, which is operating from Riyadh, also said it would attend. | Yemen's government, which is operating from Riyadh, also said it would attend. |
Ground attack | |
A Saudi-led coalition has been bombing rebel positions in Yemen for 10 weeks, in support of the country's exiled president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. | A Saudi-led coalition has been bombing rebel positions in Yemen for 10 weeks, in support of the country's exiled president Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. |
The Houthis overran the capital Sanaa last September and have gone on to seize most of the country. | The Houthis overran the capital Sanaa last September and have gone on to seize most of the country. |
Although there have been previous border skirmishes and deadly rebel fire against Saudi Arabia, Friday's battle is only the second major ground attack reported against Saudi territory. | Although there have been previous border skirmishes and deadly rebel fire against Saudi Arabia, Friday's battle is only the second major ground attack reported against Saudi territory. |
The rebels "aimed to penetrate our borders", and were eventually repelled, the Saudi statement added. | |
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has been described as "catastrophic" by the UN with 20 million civilians - 80% of the population - in need of aid. | The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has been described as "catastrophic" by the UN with 20 million civilians - 80% of the population - in need of aid. |
At least 21 people have died during violence since Thursday in the Aden area, while there were intense coalition air raids against Daleh and Shabwa provinces. | At least 21 people have died during violence since Thursday in the Aden area, while there were intense coalition air raids against Daleh and Shabwa provinces. |