The Saudi-led Arab coalition announced on Thursday it has stopped carrying out attacks near Sanaa or any other Yemeni city because it wants to prepare the political ground for a peaceful settlement.

 

 

The statement, made by the spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition and published by the Saudi state media, followed media reports of an attack on an armored division belonging to the Iran-backed Houthi militias near the Yemeni capital.

 

 

Spokesperson Brigadier General Turki al-Malki denied the report, adding: “No military operation has been carried out in the vicinity of Sanaa or any other Yemeni cities over the past period (..) with the aim of preparing the political ground for a peace process.”

 

 

Reports have spoken of a series of explosions on Thursday that rocked the base of the 1st Armored Division in Sanaa. Smoke could be seen rising over the area.

 

 

Witnesses confirmed the intermittent explosions, but their causes remain unknown. Two consecutive explosions were heard in the early morning and three at noon.

 

 

The base is located in northwestern Sanaa and was the first position raided by the militias on September 21, 2014 after several days of fighting. Its capture allowed the Houthis to sweep through and seize the capital, which they still hold.