Houthi rebels take over provincial capital near Saudi border

Yemen's Shia Houthi rebels and their army allies have reportedly taken control of the capital of a large desert province along the border with Saudi Arabia, marking a significant gain for the group ahead of Geneva peace talks.

The rebel group seized Al Hazm, capital of the province of Al Jawf, amid fierce clashes with armed tribesmen and Saudi-led air strikes, reported the Dawn.

Houthis took control over the capital city of Sanaa and several central provinces after forming an alliance with Yemen's still powerful former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and his loyalists in the army.

A Saudi-led coalition has been conducting air raids in the country for almost three months to repel the Houthis and restore exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.