Yemen strikes resumed because rebels violated truce: coalition

Riyadh

The Saudi-led coalition bombing Yemen yesterday blamed ceasefire violations by rebels for the resumption of air strikes against them.

"They did not respect the humanitarian pause. That's why we do what is necessary to be done," Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri said.

"These militia did not stop their fighting. They continued to attack borders, to attack cities in Yemen," Assiri said, adding there was "a very big change on the ground" during the pause.

He also accused the rebels of moving missiles with a range of about 70 kilometres (43 miles) towards the border with Saudi Arabia, said there was shelling "every day" of the Saudi boundary zone, and the rebels "hijacked" food and fuel aid in Yemen.