Sanaa - Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition struck Yemeni rebels in their northern stronghold as Riyadh vowed "harsh" punishment for deadly cross-border bombardments, hours after proposing a humanitarian ceasefire.
The raids targeted control centres, a communication complex and a landmine factory and other rebel positions across Yemen's northern Saada province, which borders Saudi Arabia, state media in Riyadh said on Friday.
Saudi Arabia, which has led six weeks of air strikes on Yemen in support of exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, warned Thursday that Iran-backed Shia Huthi rebels had crossed a "red line" by shelling populated border areas in the kingdom.
"The equation is different, the confrontation is different, and they will pay a harsh and expensive price," said coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri.
"The safety of Saudi Arabia is a top priority for the coalition and the Saudi armed forces. It is a red line they crossed."
Riyadh has repeatedly accused Iran of providing arms and funding to the Huthis, charges Tehran denied again on Friday, with a foreign ministry spokeswoman dismissing "efforts to put the blame on others".
Assiri's warning came just hours after US Secretary of State John Kerry urged the rebels to accept Riyadh's offer of a five-day renewable humanitarian ceasefire.
Witnesses in Saada said coalition jets dropped leaflets urging residents to leave the province and an AFP correspondent in the capital Sanaa reported that scores of families had started to arrive on Friday.
Air strikes have failed to halt the Huthis and allied fighters loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, and concern has been mounting over increasing civilian deaths.
The United Nations has renewed its plea for a ceasefire in Yemen, where weeks of war have now killed more than 1,400 people and injured nearly 6,000 -- many of them civilians.
UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was in Riyadh on Friday in a bid to re-launch stalled peace talks.
AFP
