A Saudi prince has promised to give a free Bentley to every pilot involved in the Yemen airstrikes, as bombing raids in the country appeared to resume despite a pledge that they would stop.
Saudi Arabian forces launched airstrikes on Yemen a month ago to stop advances from the Shiite Houthi rebels, who are allied with Iran and previously overthrew the Saudi-backed government.
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, the Saudi King Abdullah's nephew, has reportedly promised to give each of the 100 fighter pilots involved in the month long raids in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital, a free Bentley.
Prince Talal, who owns $300 million stake in Twitter, apparently made the pledge on social media but the post has since been deleted, the International Business Times reported.
He wrote: "To recognise the 100 participating Saudi pilots I am pleased to present them with 100 Bentley cars."
On Tuesday the Saudis said the bombing raids, which have killed at least 944 people and wounded around 3,480, had been successful and they were to focus on finding a political solution instead.
But the raids appeared to have resumed by Wednesday, with fighting taking place in Taez.
Dozens more people are said to have been wounded or killed.
Bin Talal, 60, is the grandson of Saudi Arabia's founder Ibn Saud and one of the richest men in the world.
He has an estimated fortune of $23 billion and investments in London's Savoy Hotel, Apple, Citigroup and News Corp.
He has previously gifted 25 Bentleys to members of a Saudi football team and in 2013 threatened to boycott Forbes magazine for underestimating his wealth and saying he was only in 26th place in a list of the world's richest.
His comments were met with criticism on Twitter, as well as among supporters of those in Yemen who have been killed in the month long airstrikes.
Saudi forces began its military campaign, called Operation Decisive Storm, on March 26.
They were launched to stop the advancement of Shiite Houthi rebels who had previously overthrown the Saudi-backed government and ousted President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.
After four weeks Hadi had still not been reinstated and the rebels still retain control of the capital Sanaa.
The Saudis announced yesterday an end to the "successful" Operation Decisive Storm and that they would be moving to a new operation, dubbed 'Restoring Hope.' This is to focus on security and counter terrorism and was said to involve a downscaling of military activity.
However the Saudi-led coalition had warned it stood ready to counter against any advance by the rebels - and appeared to take action today as fighting resumed in the second city of Aden as well as Taez.
In Taez, the rebels took advantage of the lull in air strikes to overrun the headquarters of the 35th Armoured Brigade, loyal to Hadi, an army officer said.
The conflict has created severe shortages of food and other supplies by closing sea and airports.
