Eight rebels killed in Taiz battle

Yemeni pro-government forces advancing into the strategic province of Taiz were battling rebels on the outskirts of its second largest town on Thursday, military sources said.

Eight rebels and two loyalists were killed in the fighting for Rahida, the pro-government sources said.

The town lies on the main road from government-held territory towards Taiz, Yemen's third largest city, 40 kilometres (25 miles) further north, where loyalist troops have been besieged by the rebels for months.

Loyalist forces were backed by significant reinforcements from a Saudi-led coalition to support President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi in March.

Hadi returned from Saudi exile on Tuesday as the offensive against the Houthi rebels and their allies got under way.

The coalition carried out at least 10 air strikes against rebel positions in and around Rahida during the night, the military sources said.

Breaking the siege of Taiz is seen as crucial for the recapture of other central provinces and opening the way to the rebel-held capital Sanaa further north.

It is also important for securing the south, where loyalists have retaken five provinces from the rebels since July, including second city Aden, where Hadi has set up base.

In their advance out of the south, pro-government forces have also been battling the rebels in Marib province east of the capital.

Hundreds of reinforcements were deployed to the province on Thursday, equipped with dozens of military vehicles newly arrived from neighbouring Saudi Arabia, military sources said.

Loyalists control Marib city, 140 kilometres (90 miles) from Sanaa, but they have so far failed to secure the rest of the province, which is the source of much of Yemen's oil output.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.