SAUDI-led bombing has intensified in Yemen, despite calls for a ceasefire, leaving the country on the brink of the worst global famine for 100 years.

More than 150 people have been killed in the past week as an air and ground assault by coalition forces aims at taking control of the crucial port of Hodeidah, which is currently held by Houthi rebels.

Fighter jets have also bombarded targets in the capital Sanaa along with Hodeidah, which is the country’s main humanitarian lifeline bringing food and medical supplies to the war-weary population.

The war on Yemen began in March 2015 and has been backed politically and militarily by imperialist powers, including Britain and the US. 

Despite relations with Saudi Arabia coming under closer scrutiny since the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, arms sales and trade has continued with the despotic Gulf kingdom.

The war has left 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid, created the world’s large food security emergency and led to a cholera epidemic affecting 1.1 million people. UN officials warned last month that, should bombing continue, the country will face the worst global famine in more than 100 years.

UN peace envoy Martin Griffiths said: “Any military escalation does not help efforts to relaunch the political process. No-one wants to see a catastrophe in Hodeidah.”

Houthis welcomed the call made by US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis last week when he issued a 30-day deadline for UN convened peace talks to recommence.

However Supreme Revolutionary Committee chief Mohammed Ali al-Houthi  said those wanting to end the conflict “should translate their desire to bring peace in Yemen into action, stop the bombing of Yemenis immediately and lift the siege on Yemen.”