Explosion in Yemeni dairy kills 27

HODEIDAH, Yemen, April 1 (UPI) -- An explosion at a Yemeni dairy killed at least 27 people Wednesday, as Saudi-led airstrikes against Houthi rebel targets continued for a seventh day.

It remained unclear if the building in the port city of Hodeidah was struck overnight by fire from a fighter plane, or by artillery errantly shot by a Houthi group. There were unconfirmed reports the dairy complex was a storage center for Houthi weapons.

A 10-nation coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, is increasing airstrikes in an attempt to disrupt supply lines of the rebels, who are believed to be backed by Iran and overtook the Yemeni government in late 2014 and forced President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee the capital of Sana, to the port city of Aden and then to Saudi Arabia. As the coalition works to achieve its claimed goal of restoring Hadi to leadership of Yemen, hundreds of civilians have been killed.

International relief agencies have left Yemen, and those that remain say a blockade of Yemeni ports by Saudi Arabia is preventing the arrival of needed supplies.

The International Red Cross said it had learned of "disturbing reports of civilian casualties." United Nations spokesman Erich Ogoso told CNN 182 people had been killed and hundreds more wounded last week. Some 75,000 displaced people face rising food prices and shuttered health facilities.

"Increasing hostilities have led to targeting of schools, health facilities and other social infrastructure. There are reports of damage to residential areas in different cities," he added.