30 killed in Yemeni army mutiny

SANAA, Yemen, July 8 (UPI) -- At least 30 Yemeni soldiers were killed as they attempted a mutiny and defection to opposition rebels, military officials said.

Their deaths Tuesday came during clashes and airstrikes along Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia. Saudi airstrikes were called in after the soldiers attempted to defect to the side of Houthi rebels, backed by Iran and fighting troops loyal to ousted Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. In an unusual tactical move, Saudi fighter jets bombed Yemen's 23rd Mechanized Brigade, among the few Yemeni army bases which has not fallen into Houthi hands.

No official statement has been made by the pan-Arab coalition providing air support to Yemeni troops.

The Houthi forces were targets of a car bomb in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, Tuesday, which exploded at the historic al-Raoudh mosque. One person was killed, and the Islamic State took responsibility for the explosion. Four Houthis were also killed Tuesday by a car bomb at a police station in al-Baida province, an area in central Yemen with a strong al-Qaida presence.