Saudi led air strike destroyed centuries-old heritage site

Sanaa

UNESCO condemned an apparent attack on the Yemeni capital's old quarter Friday that killed five people and destroyed homes in the centuries-old heritage site described as a "jewel" of Islamic culture.

The incident occurred a day before Yemen's warring factions are to meet for UN-sponsored talks in Geneva in their first bid to break a deadlock after more than two months of Saudi-led air strikes.

The coalition led by Riyadh denied claims that it had carried out an air strike there, suggesting instead that a rebel ammunition cache may have exploded.

Sanaa's old city has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and was a major centre for the propagation of Islam, boasting more than 100 mosques, 14 public baths and more than 6,000 houses built before the 11th century.

It was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1986.

Residents said a pre-dawn strike was the first direct hit there since the launch of the campaign against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in March. 

A missile hit the Qassimi neighbourhood without exploding, but killed five residents, including a woman and a child witnesses said.

"We saw the flashing light of the missile launched from a plane. We expected it to explode, but it did not... We felt the impact of the missile when it hit the ground," said resident Ahmed al-Ameri.

- 'Profoundly distressed' -

UNESCO director general Irina Bokova said she was "profoundly distressed by the loss of human lives as well as by the damage inflicted on one of the world's oldest jewels of Islamic urban landscape."

She said she was "shocked by the images of these magnificent many-storeyed tower- houses and serene gardens reduced to rubble".

"This destruction will only exacerbate the humanitarian situation and I reiterate my call to all parties to respect and protect cultural heritage in Yemen," she said.

Naji Saleh Thawaba, head of Yemen's General Organisation for the Preservation of the Historic Cities of Yemen also condemned the attack.

"I never imagined that this site could one day become a target; even if there were enemy (positions) in the area, it should never be a target for air strikes," he said.

The upper storeys of houses rising above ground floors constructed of stone are built of

rammed earth and burnt brick, with each building decorated with geometric patterns of fired

bricks and white gypsum, inspired by traditional Islamic art.

The spokesman for the coalition, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri, said there was no raid

on the site.

"For sure we did not conduct any operation inside (the) city," Assiri told AFP. "We know that

those sites are very important."

He said rebels may have been hiding weapons or ammunition in the area.

In Sanaa, there were conflicting statements from residents about whether rebels had

occupied one of the houses.

The old city has already suffered some damage from air strikes on nearby targets, including

the defence ministry, prompting a protest from UNESCO in May.

Earlier this month, UNESCO also condemned air strikes that hit the ancient Great Dam of

Marib, which was first built in the 8th century BC, in the city that was once the capital of the

kingdom of Saba. 

The UN body said the attack on the dam came a week after the national museum in

Dhamar, in central Yemen, was "completely destroyed". 

In other developments Friday, Assiri said rocket fire from Yemen killed two civilians at a

mosque during Friday prayers in a Saudi border community.

Saudi Arabia launched the air war on March 26, as the rebels and their allies among forces

loyal to ex-strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh advanced on President Abedrabbo Mansour

Hadi's refuge in the southern city of Aden.

Hadi had fled the capital, which the rebels seized unopposed in September, and was

rushed to safety in Saudi Arabia as the Huthis closed in on Aden.

Analysts say the intervention was aimed at preventing the Sunni-dominated kingdom's

regional rival, Shiite Iran, from gaining a foothold on its southern border.