Yemen's Huthi rebels acknowledged on Sunday that they targeted a military base in strategic northern city Marib, a day after the internationally recognised government said the attack killed 14 civilians at a nearby petrol station.
Huthi political commander Mohammed Ali al-Huthi tweeted a call for an independent investigation into the attack, promising to pay "compensation" if his group were found responsible.
It is rare for the Iran-aligned rebels to admit attempting to strike a target near where civilians have died.
"We asked the brothers in the Ministry of Defence (in the unrecognised Huthi government) and they said that they only bombed the base," said al-Huthi.
"We welcome and demand that independent committees investigate the matter," he added.
On Saturday, state media said a strike killed 14 civilians at the petrol station in the city of Marib, the government's last northern stronghold, and blamed the rebels for the attack.
According to two residents, the petrol station is located about a kilometre (0.6 miles) from the military base and soldiers often go there with members of their families to refuel their cars.
Al-Huthi said that the rebels "will be obligated to pay compensation" if the investigation finds them guilty of killing the 14 civilians.
The Huthi rebels launched an offensive in February to seize Marib and its surrounding oil fields -- the last significant pocket of government-held territory in the north.
Heavy battles between the Iran-backed Huthis and forces of the internationally recognised government have exacerbated what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
The attack came as a diplomatic push to secure a ceasefire in Yemen's long war intensifies.
Marib's loss to the Huthis would be a major blow for Yemen's government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, and could unleash a humanitarian disaster for the region's civilians.
Yemen's years-long conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed millions to the brink of famine. Human rights organisations accuse warring parties of committing war crimes in the impoverished country.
