Medical officials say heavy fighting in Yemen's southern city of Taiz has killed 48 civilians and wounded over 50 others.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to brief reporters, said that the first 23 civilians were killed by rebel shelling, which provoked Saudi airstrikes yesterday, killing the rest and demolishing five houses. Of those killed, at least 10 were children, they added.
Yemen's fighting, which escalated in March, pits the Houthis and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh against southern separatists, local and tribal militias, Sunni Islamic militants and troops loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, which are backed by a Saudi-led coalition.
The UN says health facilities in Yemen have reported more than 4,000 conflict-related deaths since March.
