Context: A Saudi-led military coalition mounted air strikes on Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital Sana’a on Sunday after it intercepted 10 drones launched by the Iran-backed rebels, state media reported.

• The military operation targets Houthi military capabilities in Sana’a and a number of other provinces.
• The raids come after the coalition said it intercepted 10 drones launched by the rebels on Sunday, in a sharp escalation in cross-border attacks on the kingdom.
• The Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, while they escalate an offensive in Yemen to seize the government’s last northern stronghold of Marib.
• The escalation comes even after the S. last month delisted the Houthis as terrorists and stepped up efforts to de-escalate the six-year conflict.
• The removal of the Houthis from the list of terrorist groups has been interpreted in a hostile way by the militia.
• Yemeni government sources said fierce fighting between pro-government forces and the rebels in oil-rich Marib had left at least 90 combatants on the two sides dead over the span of 24 hours.

https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/saudi-led-coalition-jets-pound-sanaa/article34015762.ece

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