Syria expresses "deep concern" over situation in Yemen

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has expressed "deep" concern over the situation in Yemen.

While Syria stresses the need to respect the sovereignty of Yemen and its independence, it calls on all Yemeni parties to embark on a dialogue to reach a political solution that meets the aspiration and will of the Yemeni people, said the ministry on Thursday, Xinhua reported citing Syria's state news agency SANA.

It also urged the international community to respect the Yemeni will.

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 Houhti militia, according to a joint statement.

Warplanes raided military camps belonging to the Shiite Houthi group in Yemen's capital Sanaa Thursday, killing four civilians, a Yemeni defence ministry official told Xinhua.

The warplanes struck the al-Dailamy air force base in northern Sanaa and destroyed the runway, which is adjacent to the civil airport, the official said.

The strikes also targeted weapons depots at a missile base in the southern part of Sanaa, which is controlled by the army loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The official said four civilians were killed in the air strike on the air force base.

However, the Houthi-run al-Maseera TV reported that dozens of people were killed overnight, without giving further details.