At least 100 Yemeni rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in the past 48 hours as fighting intensifies for the key city of Marib, military and medical sources said Wednesday.

A string of air strikes from the Saudi-led coalition targeted the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have stepped up their assault on Marib, the government's last northern stronghold.

Sixty-eight Huthis and 32 loyalists were killed in the latest clashes, military sources told AFP. The tolls were confirmed by medical sources.

The rebels rarely announce casualties among their own ranks, but their Al-Masirah channel reported around 60 coalition air strikes in Marib governorate in the past two days.

Hundreds of fighters have been killed this month after the Huthis renewed their campaign for the capital city of the oil-rich province.

The Huthis initially escalated their efforts to seize Marib in February, hoping to gain control of the region's oil resources and strengthen their position in peace talks.

Marib, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa, sits at a crossroads between the southern and northern regions and is key to controlling Yemen's north.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced in the war that erupted in 2014, after the Huthis seized Sanaa.

About 80 percent of Yemen's 30 million people are dependent on aid, in what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

At least 100 Yemeni rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in the past 48 hours as fighting intensifies for the key city of Marib, military and medical sources said Wednesday.

At least 100 Yemeni rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in the past 48 hours as fighting intensifies for the key city of Marib, military and medical sources said Wednesday. A string of air strikes from the Saudi-led coalition targeted the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have stepped up their assault on Marib, the government's last northern stronghold. Sixty-eight Huthis and 32 loyalists were killed in the latest clashes, military sources told AFP. The tolls were confirmed by medical sources. The rebels rarely announce casualties among their own ranks, but their Al-Masirah channel reported around 60 coalition air strikes in Marib governorate in the past two days. Hundreds of fighters have been killed this month after the Huthis renewed their campaign for the capital city of the oil-rich province. The Huthis initially escalated their efforts to seize Marib in February, hoping to gain control of the region's oil resources and strengthen their position in peace talks. Marib, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa, sits at a crossroads between the southern and northern regions and is key to controlling Yemen's north. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced in the war that erupted in 2014, after the Huthis seized Sanaa. About 80 percent of Yemen's 30 million people are dependent on aid, in what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

At least 100 people were killed in clashes for Yemen's Marib: Military sources 

Nearly 80 rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib, military sources told AFP on Wednesday.

"Sixty Houthi rebels were killed most of them in airstrikes conducted in the last 24 hours -- while 18 pro-government troops were killed and dozens injured in clashes over the past 48 hours," a government military official said.

The figures were confirmed by other military sources, while the rebels rarely report casualty numbers.

Battles between Yemen's government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, and the Iran-allied Houthi rebels have intensified in recent days in the province of Marib, according to the military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-intercepts-missiles-drones-fired-from-yemen-410849">Also read | Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles, drones fired from Yemen</a> 
 
The fighting was concentrated in the north and west of the governorate.

The official said airstrikes have also intensified.

The rebels themselves reported early on Wednesday that the coalition has launched at least 30 such strikes against them across Marib province. 
 
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"The Houthis launched last night a military offensive that continued into the early hours of Wednesday morning," the pro-government official said, adding loyalist troops were able to repel the insurgents despite a small advance on the northern front.

Yemen's internationally recognised government and the Houthis have been locked in war since 2014 when the insurgents seized the capital Sanaa.

In February, the Houthis escalated their efforts to seize Marib, the government's last northern stronghold in fighting that has killed hundreds on both sides.

Control of the oil-rich region would strengthen the Houthis' bargaining position in peace talks.

Nearly 80 rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib, military sources told AFP on Wednesday. "Sixty Houthi rebels were killed most of them in airstrikes conducted in the last 24 hours -- while 18 pro-government troops were killed and dozens injured in clashes over the past 48 hours," a government military official said.

Nearly 80 rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib, military sources told AFP on Wednesday. "Sixty Houthi rebels were killed most of them in airstrikes conducted in the last 24 hours -- while 18 pro-government troops were killed and dozens injured in clashes over the past 48 hours," a government military official said. The figures were confirmed by other military sources, while the rebels rarely report casualty numbers. Battles between Yemen's government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, and the Iran-allied Houthi rebels have intensified in recent days in the province of Marib, according to the military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Also read | Saudi Arabia intercepts missiles, drones fired from Yemen The fighting was concentrated in the north and west of the governorate. The official said airstrikes have also intensified. The rebels themselves reported early on Wednesday that the coalition has launched at least 30 such strikes against them across Marib province. Watch | The West Asia Post | A look at Yemen's museums; Battle to save the past "The Houthis launched last night a military offensive that continued into the early hours of Wednesday morning," the pro-government official said, adding loyalist troops were able to repel the insurgents despite a small advance on the northern front. Yemen's internationally recognised government and the Houthis have been locked in war since 2014 when the insurgents seized the capital Sanaa. In February, the Houthis escalated their efforts to seize Marib, the government's last northern stronghold in fighting that has killed hundreds on both sides. Control of the oil-rich region would strengthen the Houthis' bargaining position in peace talks.

Nearly 80 killed in fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib: Sources

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At least 100 people were killed in clashes for Yemen's Marib: Military sources

Nearly 80 killed in fighting for the strategic Yemeni city of Marib: Sources