Coalition opens probe into deadly Yemen hospital raid

A Saudi-led coalition said it had launched an "independent" investigation into "reports" of an air strike on a hospital in Yemen which Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said killed 11 people.

More than 19 people were also wounded in the raid that hit the MSF-supported hospital in the rebel-held northern province of Hajja, the Paris-based aid agency said, adding that one of its staff was among the dead.

Key Saudi ally Washington condemned the attack, which came less than 48 hours after  air strikes on a Koranic school in neighbouring rebel-held province Saada killed 10 children, according to MSF. 

As criticism of the civilian death toll from its bombing campaign has mounted, the coalition has set up a standing investigation team.

"The Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) is aware of reports of an air raid on a hospital in Hajja... and has urgently launched an independent investigation into these reports," the team said late on Monday.

The team will "obtain more information from MSF and will publicly announce the findings" of the probe," it said in a statement published on the official Saudi Press Agency. 

The JIAT said it was also investigating Saturday's strikes on the school in Saada.

The coalition denied it had targeted the school, saying it bombed a rebel training camp for child soldiers.

SourcE: AFP