U.S. calls for probe of bombing of hospital in Yemen

A U.S. State Department spokesperson on Thursday called "awful" and urged the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen to conduct an investigation.

"I saw those reports, they're awful. The United States takes them seriously and we're seeking more information," said spokesperson Robert Palladino.

"We understand that the Saudi-led coalition has referred the results of this targeting operation to the joint incidents assessment team for their review and their investigation," he said. "The United States urges a transparent investigation," Palladino said.

Save the Children said a missile on Tuesday struck a gas station near the entrance to a rural hospital it supports in the northwestern part of the country, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the city of Saada.

The 9:30 a.m. strike killed seven people, including four children, the organization said in a statement. Among the dead were a health worker and the person's two children, as well as two other children and a security guard. Eight people also were wounded, it said.

Palladino said the U.S. was pushing all sides in the conflict to take steps to avoid actions that endanger civilians and civilian infrastructure.

"The United States urges a transparent investigation by the joint incidents assessment team into these alleged incidents as well as swift implementation of the resulting recommendations," he added.

(CGTN)