Heavy fighting continues across Taiz, Marib and al-Jawf in Yemen

Heavy fighting took place in the Taiz, Marib and al-Jawf regions between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and Houthi fighters, with exchanges of artillery and missile fire, Al Jazeera reported.

Warplanes carried out intensive air strikes on Houthi positions and weapons in western Taiz governorate, the report said, adding that government forces repelled a Houthi attack in Bani Bakari on the al-Ashrouh front in Jabal Habashi district west of Taiz.

As fighting in southern and western Yemen grew more intense, authorities raised the alert level and deployed more security personnel.

The west coast was particularly affected, with displacement rising as the government and international humanitarian organisations struggle to reach areas affected by the fighting.

The escalation has also seen more use of drones, with Yemeni government forces said to have shot down several, including some carrying mortar rounds.