Saudi Arabia's air force has struck ballistic missile sites in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital of Sanaa.
It said the air strikes had been conducted against “legitimate military targets” in Sanaa, and that one missile site of “high-value” had been destroyed.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-backed rebel group warned civilians to stay away from the attack sites.
The coalition said it had taken measures to spare civilians. It said Houthis sheltering in “secret positions” had used hospitals, organisations and civilians as human shields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The kingdom's air force has been engaged in a major campaign in support of forces loyal to the internationally recognised Yemeni government as fighting intensifies on several fronts in the conflict.
On Sunday, a major offensive by government-aligned forces, including the Al Amalikah brigades, cut off Houthi supply lines between Taez, Yemen's third-largest city, and the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
The offensive represents a large-scale counter attack against Houthi forces who made gains in the oil-rich northern city of Marib after one of the war’s biggest escalations in February.
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Yemeni army reinforcements arrive to join fighters loyal to Yemen's Saudi Arabia-backed government, on the southern front of Marib. AFP -
Outside Marib, a government stronghold in northern Yemen, joint forces have made advances in the provinces of Taez. AFP -
A Yemeni pro-government fighter is pictured during fighting with Houthi rebels. AFP -
Yemeni pro-government forces. AFP -
Hundreds of Houthi fighters have been killed as fierce fighting continues for a second week near Yemen's west coast. AFP -
Coalition forces continued the progress and took control of areas in the provinces of Ibb and Taez. AFP -
Marib, a region that hosts more than two million internally displaced people, was until recently the main focal point of the war. But focus has now moved to the west, where about 200 Houthi fighters were killed in a second week of confrontations in Hays, Al Jarahi, Maqbanah and Jabal Ras. AFP -
Saudi Arabia is backing the pro-government fighters. AFP -
A Houthi fighter fires a weapon at a front line in the Al Jubah district of Yemen's Marib province. Reuters -
A Houthi fighter with an amputated right arm takes position, in a frame grab from video handed out by the Houthi media centre. Reuters -
Houthi fighters in the Al Jubah district of Yemen's Marib province, in another frame grab from video handed out by the Houthi media centre. Reuters
Residents told Reuters they heard large explosions across the city and that at least two military targets had been struck. The Houthis acknowledged that sites had been struck in the northern part of Sanaa.
The strikes come as the Houthis escalate attacks using drones and ballistic missiles aimed at population centres and vital energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, with a number of attacks being launched at the weekend.
The coalition said its raids had destroyed a high-value ballistic missile target.
The war in Yemen is now entering its seventh year, despite multiple attempts at a negotiated settlement. Vital ports such as Hodeidah remain under Houthi control, a situation which has pushed the country deeper into crisis.
The UN estimates about 2.3 million children are suffering from malnutrition, while as many as half of the population lack access to clean drinking water.
