World, Middle East

Saudi-led coalition planes hit Sanaa with sound bombs

Several districts of Sanaa rocked by explosions as Saudi-led coalition warplanes drop sound bombs on Yemen’s capital

22.05.2016 - Update : 22.05.2016
Saudi-led coalition planes hit Sanaa with sound bombs An armed member of Yemeni Ansarullah Houthi movement stands guard near the wreckage of a building after Saudi-led coalition airstrikes hit a bowling saloon at Musbahi district in Sanaa, Yemen on February 12, 2016. File photo ( Mohammed Hamoud - Anadolu Ajansı )

By Mohamed al-Samei

SANAA

Yemeni capital Sanaa was shaken by loud explosions on Sunday due to sound bombs dropped by Saudi-led coalition warplanes, a local security source told Anadolu Agency.

"Arab coalition aircraft dropped four sound bombs on different parts of the city, causing massive explosions," the source, who spoke anonymously due to restrictions on speaking to media, said.

"People thought Arab coalition planes were conducting airstrikes, but it was later confirmed they were only dropping sound bombs," he added.

"A number of severe explosions shook homes in several neighborhoods of Sanaa, including Hayil, Wihdah and al-Zubairi," one eyewitness told Anadolu Agency.

Yemen has suffered ongoing violence since late 2014, when the Shia Houthi militant group and its allies overran Sanaa and other parts of the country, forcing President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and his pro-Saudi government to temporarily flee to Riyadh.

In March of last year, Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies launched a massive air campaign in Yemen aimed at reversing Houthi gains and restoring Hadi’s embattled government.

*Ali Abo Rezig contributed to this report

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.