Saudi-led airstrikes hit Houthi positions in Central Yemen

Sanaa: The Saudi-led Arab coalition has launched multiple airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen's oil-rich province of Marib, a government military source reported on Saturday.

Saudi-led airstrikes targeted Houthi positions and their military vehicles on the frontlines in western and northern districts of Sirwah and Madghal, the source told Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, Houthi-run al-Masirah TV has reported 15 coalition airstrikes on Houthi positions in the two districts.

The Iran-backed Houthis began a major offensive attack against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture Marib, which hosts over 2 million internally displaced people, in February.

Subsequently, UN has warned that the assault on Marib could lead to a major humanitarian catastrophe.

However, a recent UN-brokered negotiation between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to produce any agreement on a cease-fire.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government.

(With IANS inputs)