Saudi-led coalition airstrikes destroy Coca-Cola plant

By Jenny Eagle

- Last updated on GMT

Saudi-led coalition airstrikes destroy Coca-Cola plant

Related tags Saudi arabia Coca-cola

Saudi-led coalition airstrikes have allegedly destroyed a Coca-Cola plant in Sana'a, Yemen, according to reports.

Coca-Cola said the bottling facility was closed for maintenance and no-one was hurt.

Coca Cola, Sprite, Fanta & Riwa

It said in a statement: “A Coca-Cola facility in Sanaa, Yemen, was heavily damaged as a result of the recent airstrikes there. The facility was closed for maintenance and there are no reports of any casualties.”

It owns two factories in the region in Sana'a and Aden producing brands including Coca Cola, Sprite, Fanta and Riwa bottled water.  

Saudi Arabia and Sunni Arab allies have been fighting against Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen during a month long bombing campaign, after they took over the capital city last September.

Other countries who belong to the coalition are Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.

According to reports, the Coca-Cola factory building was burned to the ground after the explosion and workers from the factory were seen picking through plastic bottles, which had been packed in cases.

The factory's sign with the Coca Cola logo was also seen lying in the debris.

Houthis are allegedly backed by Iran, which has attacked Saudi Arabia and their allies in the Gulf for launching air strikes on their strongholds.

More than 80 people, including civilians, have been killed on Saudi Arabia's southern front with Yemen since coalition forces launched a campaign in support of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government in March.

Inconclusive peace talks

Saudi Press Agency said the coalition ended a ceasefire on Saturday after Saudi air defence forces intercepted a missile fired from Yemen towards the kingdom's city of Abha on Friday.

The UN Security Council last month urged Yemen's warring parties to respect the ceasefire and to resume their inconclusive peace talks.

But the fighting never stopped on the ground and coalition air strikes continued, while the talks ended with no major breakthrough six days after they had started, with both sides saying they would meet again in January.

Capture

The ceasefire announced on December 15 ended due to continuous rebel "attacks on the kingdom's territories by firing ballistic missiles towards Saudi cities, targeting Saudi border posts, and hampering aid operations," said the Saudi Press Agency in a statement.

The rebels have also "continued to shell residents and kill and detain Yemeni civilians in cities under their control.”

"All this shows how unserious the militias and their allies are and their disregard for the lives of civilians, and how they have clearly exploited this truce to make gains."

However, the coalition "was and is still eager on creating the suitable circumstances to find a peaceful solution in Yemen," it said.

Nearly 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen since March, according to UN figures.

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