UPDATE 2 -- Mortar shells hit Yemeni Air Force Base, destroying two fighter jets

UPDATE 2 -- Mortar shells hit Yemeni Air Force Base, destroying two fighter jets

2011-10-31 08:34:19 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANA'A (BNO NEWS) -- A series of large explosions hit an Air Force base in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a on late Sunday evening, the government said, destroying two aircraft and shutting down the nearby civilian airport.

The Defense Ministry said several mortar shells had hit the al-Daylami Air Force base which shares its runway with Sana'a International Airport. The explosions destroyed at least two fighter jets, a small ammunition storage and a fire could be seen on the runway.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the attack, which was apparently launched by opposition tribesmen, but the fires forced authorities to shut down the civilian airport until further notice. Incoming flights were diverted to an airport in the seaport city of Aden.

Yemen is one of a handful of countries across North Africa and the Middle East where large numbers of civilians have risen up this year to call for greater democracy and freedoms. But violence in the country has continued to escalate after President Saleh threatened with civil war after refusing, for a third time, to sign the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative for power transition on May 22.

The uprising against President Saleh has claimed at least 1,500 lives since February.

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