At least 12 Yemeni troops were killed during an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition on allied Yemeni pro-government forces, Yemeni military officials said Friday.
At least eight Yemeni soldiers were also wounded in the strike, which took place in Shabwa on Thursday. As they weren’t authorized to speak to the media, they spoke on condition of anonymity.
An ally of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, the Saudi-led coalition, did not comment immediately. An Associated Press reporter repeatedly contacted coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki for comment and failed to receive a response.
Since the Houthi rebels overran Sanaa and much of the north of the country in 2014, Yemen has been wracked by civil war. During the Saudi-led coalition’s intervention in 2015, the rebels and internationally recognized government were brought to terms. In the meantime, the conflict has continued for years and led to the worst humanitarian crisis in history.
Residents who did not wish to be identified by name for fear of reprisal reported that several bodies were burned at the site of the strike, as well as three military vehicles, some of which contained automatic rifles.
A number of friendly fire incidents have occurred during Yemen’s conflict, during which coalition airstrikes hit allied forces.
Over the past few months, Yemeni government forces and the Houthis have fought in Marib and Hodeida, two cities in the central province of Yemen. In recent weeks, the coalition has increased its airstrikes targeting Sanaa and other areas held by rebels in Yemen.
