Washington, April 16 (RHC)-- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sharply criticized the Saudi-led bombing of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, escalating tensions between two key U.S. allies.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., Abadi said the Saudi operation had "no logic" and could trigger a wider regional conflict. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States quickly hit back, defending the U.S.-supported offensive and denying reports of heavy civilian casualties.

Human Rights Watch, meanwhile, has called for an investigation into airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on a dairy in Yemen which it says killed at least 31 civilians at the end of March.