Arab coalition warns Yemenis to leave Saada province

Coalition declares Saada a military target and warns civilians to leave the province, seen as Houthi rebel bastion.

The Arab coalition carried out air strikes in Yemen's Saada, a bastion of Houthi rebels, and warned all civilians to leave the restive province after declaring the entire territory a "military target".
Saudi state television channel Al Ekhbariya said on Friday that the region would become a target, as General Ahmed al-Asiri, the military spokesman for the coalition, said leaflets had been dropped in the Old Saada district urging residents to leave by 19:00 local time (1600 GMT) on Friday.

The escalation comes in response to recent cross border attacks by the Houthis, which targeted Saudi cities near the Saudi-Yemen frontier.
"Our work now is reaching those (Houthis) who planned these attacks and who are hiding in Saada, and the places where the militias are," Asiri said.
"Our military operation will be longer and harsher, and will go after all Houthi commanders," he added.
Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Riyadh, said the announcement was the first in which the coalition declared it was going after the entire Houthi leadership.
Doctors Without Borders criticised the announcement, saying that the bombing of Saada could lead to "massive loss of life", as many people may not be able to leave.
"The bombing of civilian targets, with or without warning, is a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law. It is even more serious to target a whole province," Llanos Ortiz, Doctors Without Borders' emergency coordinator in Hajjah province, said.
"It is impossible for the entire population of Saada province to leave within hours. Many people have no transport or fuel due to the coalition's blockade. Many others have no access to information as the province's phone networks are barely operational."