ADEN (Reuters) - The second-in-command of the Yemeni army was killed on Wednesday when a missile fired by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement hit an army camp, a military source said, the most senior Yemeni officer killed in the country’s civil war.

Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei was killed outside the strategic Red Sea coastal city of al-Mokha, which the army captured from the Houthis last month. Several other military personnel, including a colonel, also died in the attack, according to the online Arabic-language Aden al-Ghad newspaper.

President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s internationally-recognized government, backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition, has been trying to re-take the country from the Houthis for nearly two years. The war has killed more than 10,000 people.

“(Yafei) was killed along with several others when the missile hit the camp near al-Mokha city early this morning,” the military source, who is also a member of the general’s family, told Reuters.

Hadi’s presidential office said in a statement carried by the government-run news agency that Yafei died “while carrying out his heroic role of liberating the remainder of the al-Mokha district” from the Houthis. It gave no further details.

The Houthi-run news agency said its fighters targeted a vehicle in which Yafei was traveling on the outskirts of al-Mokha.

Aden al-Ghad said that the bodies of several officers who died in the attack along with Yafei have arrived at a hospital in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, where Hadi’s government is based.

It identified one of them as a colonel and said several of Yafei’s bodyguards were also among the dead.

Hadi supporters, backed by Gulf Arab troops, captured al-Mokha last month after weeks of heavy fighting around the small but strategic port city that had once served as a main port for exporting coffee.

Al-Mokha lies close to the Bab al-Mandab strait through which much of the world’s oil passes.

In a separate incident, a Saudi police corporal was killed by shells fired by the Houthis on the town of Dhahran al-Janoub in southern Saudi Arabia, the local civil defense department said on its Twitter account. An expatriate man was also injured in the attack, it said.

The Houthis have regularly fired rockets towards Saudi cities and villages over the past two years. The Houthis say their attacks are in response to Saudi strikes on Yemeni cities and villages.</s>Yemen's deputy chief of staff was killed on Wednesday when the armed Houthi movement battling government forces fired a ballistic missile at an army camp on the Red Sea coast, according to a military source.

The attack killing Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei was a blow to Yemeni government forces and hit outside the strategic coastal city of al-Mokha, which they captured from the Iran-allied Houthis last month.

A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia intervened in Yemen's civil war nearly two years ago to back President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after he was ousted from the capital Sanaa by Houthi forces.

"Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei was killed along with several others when the missile hit the camp near al-Mokha city early this morning," the military source, who is also a member of the general's family, told Reuters.

Al-Mokha lies close to the Bab al-Mandab strait through which much of the world's oil passes.</s>ADEN: A senior Yemeni general was killed on Wednesday when Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at an army camp in southern Yemen, according to a military source.

"Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei, deputy chief of general staff, was killed along with several others when the missile hit the camp near al-Mokha city early this morning," the source, a member of the general's family who declined to be named, told Reuters.

The Red Sea port of Al-Mokha, close to the Bab al-Mandab shipping lane through which much of the world's oil passes, has been the scene of heavy fighting between the Iran-allied Houthis and Gulf-backed Yemeni forces fighting on behalf of president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.</s>Yemen's deputy chief of staff was killed on Wednesday when the armed Houthi movement battling government forces fired a ballistic missile at an army camp on the Red Sea coast, according to a military source. The attack killing Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei was a blow to Yemeni government forces and hit outside the strategic coastal city of al-Mokha, which they captured from the Iran-allied Houthis last month.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Reuters.</s>Aden: Yemen’s deputy chief of staff was killed yesterday when Al Houthi militia battling government forces fired a ballistic missile at an army camp on the Red Sea coast, according to a military source.

Army deputy chief of staff Major General Ahmad Saif Al Yafii was killed by a heat-seeking missile on the outskirts of the strategic coastal town of Mocha, the source told AFP.

“Major General Ahmad Saif Al Yafei was killed along with several others when the missile hit the camp near Al [Mocha] city early this morning,” a military source, who is also a member of the general’s family, told Reuters.

Yemeni government forces captured Mocha from the Iran-allied Al Houthis last month.It was their biggest success in months. The town lies close to the Bab Al Mandab strait.

The rebels still hold the capital, Sana’a, and much of the central and northern highlands as well as the coast around Hodeida.

Before the 19th Century, Mocha was Yemen’s main port and export hub for coffee grown in the highlands, and its historical symbolism meant it was fiercely fought over.

Its role was overtaken by Hodeida and second city, Aden, where the government is based.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) humanitarian coordinator in the country warned on Tuesday that seven million Yemenis are closer than ever to starvation.

“Seven million Yemenis do not know where their next meal will come from and are ever closer to starvation” in the country of 27 million people, Jamie McGoldrick said.

“Over 17 million people are currently unable to adequately feed themselves and are frequently forced to skip meals — women and girls eat the least and last,” he said in a statement.

Yemen’s war pits the internationally recognised government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi against Al Houthi rebels allied with forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

A military coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, intervened in Yemen’s civil war nearly two years ago to back President Hadi after he was ousted from the capital, Sana’a, by Houthi forces.

The fighting has intensified since the coalition intervened in March 2015.

Since early January, pro-government forces have pressed a major offensive aimed at recapturing Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, and retook the southwestern port of Mocha earlier this month.

“I am deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict and militarisation of Yemen’s western coast.

“It is coming at a great cost to civilians,” McGoldrick said.

Unexploded rockets have landed inside the rebel-held port of Hodeida, he said, “reducing even further the number of ships and imports” vital for Yemen’s food supplies.

“Given that the country is 80-90 per cent dependent on imported food staples, I am compelled to raise the alarm,” the UN official said.

“If left unabated, these factors combined could accelerate the onset of famine.”

Also on Tuesday, the United Nations children’s agency warned that 462,000 children were suffering from acute malnutrition.

The UN aid chief warned last month that the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country was sliding deeper into humanitarian crisis and could face famine this year.

Stephen O’Brien said that without “immediate action”, famine was “a possible scenario for 2017.”

More than 7,400 people have been killed since the intervention began nearly two years ago, including around 1,400 children, according to the United Nations.</s>SANAA, Yemen — A ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Shiite rebels on Wednesday killed the deputy chief of staff of the country's military in a major blow to the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition, which heavily supports the government, officials said.

The SABA news agency, which is controlled by the Houthi rebels, said their forces struck the vehicle of Brig. Gen. Ahmed Seif al-Yafie in the Red Sea port of Mokha.

Yemeni military officials said the missile hit a gathering point for the military commanders. A total of seven officers were killed, including al-Yafie, and 25 were wounded, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Abdu Dagher expressed condolences on Twitter after the attack, saying the "end of the enemy is near."

Al-Yafie was loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government, which has been battling the Houthis and their allies since 2015. A Saudi-led coalition launched an air and ground campaign in support of the government that year, but the rebels are still in control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen.

Mokha, a strategic Red Sea port, witnessed intense fighting between Houthis and allied forces loyal to the ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the Saudi-led coalition and pro-government forces, mostly southern fighters.

Tens of thousands of people were recently displaced from the fighting along the western coastline.

On Tuesday, Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Yemen warned of an escalation in the fighting along Yemen's western coast, "at a great cost to civilians."

He said over 17 million people are "unable to adequately feed themselves and are frequently forced to skip meals — women and girls eat the least and last."

"Seven million do not know where their next meal will come from and are ever closer to starvation," McGoldrick said.

The conflict in Yemen has pushed the Arab world's poorest nation to the edge of famine and international humanitarian organizations have been pleading for cessation of hostilities to help deliver basic needs to those displaced or besieged by warring parties.</s>SANAA, Yemen (AP) — The deputy chief of staff of Yemen’s military has been killed by a rocket fired by Houthi rebels that struck his vehicle in the Red Sea port of Mokha.

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Abdu Dagher expressed condolences on Twitter after Brig. Gen. Ahmed Seif al-Yafie was killed Wednesday, saying the “end of the enemy is near.”

The SABA news agency, which is controlled by the Houthis, said the rebels had deliberated attacked the general’s vehicle.

Al-Yafie was loyal to the internationally recognized government, which has been battling the rebels and allied army units since 2015. A Saudi-led coalition launched an air and ground campaign in support of the government that year, but the rebels are still in control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen.</s>Alwaght- Ansarullah Movement fighters fired on Wednesday a ballistic missile at Saudi mercenaries' camp in southern Yemen where.

"Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei, deputy chief of general staff, was killed along with several others when the missile hit the camp near al-Mokha city early this morning," Reuters reported.

Formerly the 4th Region commander of the Hadi loyalists' death is a deep blow to the Saudi-backed militants.

Forces loyal to Mansur Hadi, Who resigned as Yemen President and fled to Saudi Capital, launched an offensive on January 2017 on Al-Mokha city where was controlled by Yemeni resistant movement.

The strategic Red Sea port of Al-Mokha, located close to the Bab al-Mandab, is shipping lane through which much of the world's oil passes.

Saudi Arabia launched a bloody aggression against neighboring Yemen on 26 March, 2015 with aime of restore power to fugitive Mansour Hadi who is a close ally to Saudi Arabia as well as to undermine Ansarullah movement which Riyadh considers as a threat to its interests.

Over 11,500 Yemenis have been killed in the almost 2-year aggression, with the vast majority of them being civilians including women and children.</s>“Seven million Yemenis do not know where their next meal will come from and are ever closer to starvation” in the country of 27 million people, Jamie McGoldrick said.

“Over 17 million people are currently unable to adequately feed themselves and are frequently forced to skip meals — women and girls eat the least and last,” he said in a statement. Yemen’s war pits the internationally recognised government of President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi against Al Houthi rebels allied with forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. A military coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, intervened in Yemen’s civil war nearly two years ago to back President Hadi after he was ousted from the capital, Sana’a, by Houthi forces. The fighting has intensified since the coalition intervened in March 2015. Since early January, pro-government forces have pressed a major offensive aimed at recapturing Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, and retook the southwestern port of Mocha earlier this month. “I am deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict and militarisation of Yemen’s western coast. “It is coming at a great cost to civilians,” McGoldrick said. Unexploded rockets have landed inside the rebel-held port of Hodeida, he said, “reducing even further the number of ships and imports” vital for Yemen’s food supplies. “Given that the country is 80-90 per cent dependent on imported food staples, I am compelled to raise the alarm,” the UN official said. “If left unabated, these factors combined could accelerate the onset of famine.” Also on Tuesday, the United Nations children’s agency warned that 462,000 children were suffering from acute malnutrition. The UN aid chief warned last month that the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country was sliding deeper into humanitarian crisis and could face famine this year. Stephen O’Brien said that without “immediate action”, famine was “a possible scenario for 2017.” More than 7,400 people have been killed since the intervention began nearly two years ago, including around 1,400 children, according to the United Nations.</s>It was a rare attack on al Qaeda-linked targets in northern Yemen, an area dominated by Shi'ite Muslim Houthi rebels battling Yemeni government forces for control of the rugged mountainous region.

The official said that a drone attacked two houses in the Abu Jabara area in Saada Province, killing four people.

Some reports suggested that Hadi al-Tais, a local al Qaeda commander, had been targeted in the attack, but there was no confirmation that he was among the dead.

The Yemeni Defence Ministry's website confirmed that three suspected militants, including two Saudi nationals, had been killed in an air strike, but did not elaborate.

U.S. drone strikes have regularly targeted al Qaeda militants in southern Yemen, where the group had exploited last year's protests against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and seized swathes of territory before being driven out by an army offensive in June.

But it was the first report of an attack by a pilotless plane in the area near the Saudi border in northern Yemen.

Yemeni officials say hundreds of suspected al Qaeda militants, many of them veterans of the Afghan war against the Soviet occupation, have been operating in the area with tacit consent of Saleh, who ruled Yemen for more than three decades.

Saleh's critics say the former Yemeni president had used the militants in his repeated and unsuccessful attempts to crush the Houthis.
A Houthi missile attack on a Yemeni military camp near the port city of Mocha kills Major General Ahmed Saif al-Yafei, Yemen's deputy chief of staff, and several others.