SANAA: A Saudi-led air coalition air strike on a market northeast of the rebel-held Yemeni capital Sanaa killed at least 30 rebels and civilians, witnesses said.

The air strike targeted three rebel vehicles as they entered a market in the town of Naqil bin Ghaylan, killing at least 30 Houthi insurgents and civilians, one tribal source in the area said. The rebel-controlled Saba news agency gave a higher death toll, saying that 60 civilians were killed and wounded in the attack but it did not mention any casualties among fighters.

The attack hit Khulaqa market, which is known for selling qat, a mild narcotic that is chewed throughout Yemen, witnesses said. The area is part of the Nehm region, where coalition-backed loyalists have been advancing against the rebels as they try to close in on Sanaa.

Rights groups have repeatedly urged the coalition to avoid causing civilian casualties.

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch accused the coalition of using US-supplied cluster bombs.

The coalition last month announced that an independent inquiry would examine charges of possible abuses against civilians in the conflict.

A panel of UN experts says the coalition has carried out 119 sorties that violated humanitarian law, and called for an international probe.

The coalition launched late March 2015 an air campaign against Iran-backed rebels in support of the UN-recognised President Abed-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The Iran-backed rebels have controlled Sanaa since September 2014 and had placed Hadi under house arrest.

But he escaped, initially seeking refuge in second city Aden last year before fleeing to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as the rebels advanced on the southern port.

Hadi returned to Aden after loyalists backed by the coalition drove the rebels out of there and four other southern provinces in the summer.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2016