UN condemns airstrike in Yemen that leaves more than 80 dead

The UN has condemned an airstrike on a detention centre in northern Yemen as the death toll rose to more than 80.

The Saudi-led coalition denied reports that it had bombed the prison in a statement on Saturday morning.

The strikes on rebel-held parts of Yemen came after a drone attack on Monday in Abu Dhabi for which the Houthi leadership claimed responsibility.

The UN estimates that the war in Yemen had killed 377,000 people by the end of 2021, both directly and indirectly through hunger and disease. Millions more have been displaced. It said earlier this week that the level of violence this month could soon surpass that witnessed in December, because of the number of airstrikes, drones and rockets launched, with an alarming number used against civilians and non-military targets.