Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen benefits no country: Iran

The Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen are not in the interest of any country and should be stopped immediately, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported citing Iranian media.

"This operation violates Yemen's sovereignty and will only result in bloodshed," Zarif was quoted as saying by state IRIB TV.

"The Saudi-led raid will further escalate tension in the region and benefit no country," he said, adding that Iran would try to help control the crisis in Yemen.

The Iranian foreign minister, who is currently in Switzerland for talks on Iran's controversial nuclear issue, urged the political parties involved in the conflict in Yemen to return to the negotiation table to settle their differences.

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham condemned the Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen, urging an immediate end to military actions against the country.

Afkham said military strikes against Yemen was an aggression that complicated the crisis and prevented opportunities for peaceful resolution.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar said on Thursday they had decided to act to protect Yemen against "aggression" by the Houthi militia, according to a joint statement.

Warplanes raided military camps of the Shia Houthi group in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Thursday, killing 25 civilians and wounding 50 others, a Yemeni defence ministry official told Xinhua.

The strikes also targeted weapon depots at a missile base in southern Sanaa controlled by forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.