39 dead in Yemen since Saudi-led strikes began: health officials

SANAA: At least 39 people have been killed in more than 24 hours of Saudi-led air strikes against rebels in Yemen, health ministry officials said on Friday.

Twelve of the victims were killed when a raid targeting a military base north of Sanaa hit surrounding residential areas, officials from the rebel-controlled ministry told AFP.

Saudi Arabia and a coalition of regional allies launched air strikes against Huthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, the start of a military operation to protect the government.

Yemen has been gripped by growing turmoil since Huthi rebels launched a power takeover in the Yemeni capital Sanaa in February and are now fighting in the port city of Aden.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said any threat to Saudi Arabia would "evoke a strong response" from Islamabad.

Pakistan, which borders eastern Iran, said it was considering a Saudi request that it send troops to Yemen.

Saudi Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, spokesman for the operation, told a news conference: "There are no plans at this stage for ground forces operations, but if the need arises, the Saudi ground forces and those of the friends and sisterly forces are ready and will repel any aggression."

Arab foreign ministers agreed in Egypt on Thursday on a draft resolution to form a unified Arab military force.

"The task of the force will be rapid military intervention to deal with security threats to Arab nations," Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby said.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin called for an immediate cessation of military activities in Yemen in phone conversations with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, the Kremlin said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry raised Yemen on Thursday with his Iranian counterpart before turning to nuclear negotiations in Switzerland.

Iran's Foreign Ministry demanded an immediate halt to the "aggression and air strikes" in Yemen.

"Military actions in Yemen ... will further complicate the situation," ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said, quoted by Fars news agency.