Blast kills 4 children in Hodeida, Yemen‏

An explosive device, planted by Iran-backed Houthi extremists, went off in the western province of Hodeida, killing four Yemeni children, local sources said on Tuesday.

The explosion took place Monday in Hodeida’s district of Al Hays, injuring two other children, the sources added, according to Al Arabiya.

All the victims were from the same family and they were playing when the rocket-shaped device exploded, the daily said.

The sources expressed concern about more such explosions in the area and elsewhere after recent heavy rains exposed landmines previously planted by Al Houthis as part of their years-long conflict with the government.

The Yemeni government and rights groups have accused Al Houthis of planting thousands of landmines in residential areas, causing many civilian deaths, especially off Hodeida’s western coast.

Al Houthis plunged Yemen in war in late 2014 and an Arab coalition are fighting the extremists in Yemen upon a request from its government.