Turkey condemns deadly Houthi attack in Yemen

By Fahri Aksut

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey on Sunday condemned the attack of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels that caused the death of 70 people in Marib, western Yemen.

"We condemn the attack mounted by Houthi groups on a government-held military camp in Yemen which caused the death of 70 people and injured a large number of people," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement.

In the statement, the ministry called on all parties to focus on humanitarian needs and avoid conflicts that might raise tensions in Yemen.

The ministry also summoned all parties to support UN-led political efforts.

Earlier Sunday, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launched an airstrike on a government-military camp in the city of Marib, killing 70 people, mostly soldiers.

Yemen has been beset by violence and chaos since 2014 when Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

The crisis escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led military coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains.

Since then, tens of thousands of Yemenis are believed to have been killed and injured in the conflict, while another 14 million are at risk of starvation, according to the UN.